Long, hard road brings Jon’s Formula One dream closer

It’s mid-July and, despite the rain, the British crowd are out in force at Donington Park. Their cheers are deafening as our race winner stands atop the podium. This is just the beginning for Jon Lancaster.

Jon, born and raised in Leeds, is one of Britain’s rising motorsport stars, and it is his dream to race in Formula One. Along the road just travelled there’s been financial worries, injury and even family tragedy. A lot has happened since that first turn of a go-kart wheel.

“My dad started karting in Barnsley when he and my mum got divorced,” explains Jon. “My brother Andy and I used to go down to help out and what-not. I used to natter dad’s lights out until finally he said, ‘do you want to have a go?’”.

Father and son were soon visiting their local track in Wombwell regularly, with eight-year-old Jon at the wheel of his birthday present. When he hit 10, Jon started racing. By 11, he was a regular race winner and by 14, he had signed with professional team Birel Motorsport to race in Europe. Under the tutelage of experienced team mechanic Mark Rose, the Formula One ambitions were born.

“We just went for it from there. We’ve been out testing on my birthday, Saturday nights, even New Year’s Day. In every condition you can think of. I remember once almost crying in the kart because my hands were so cold!”

Four years of professional karting – aided by special dispensation allowing him the time off school – yielded multiple cup victories. “But the idea was always to get into cars.” In 2006, after several good words in the right ears, Jon made his single-seater track car debut in a demonstration race at Silverstone. Incredibly he won, and was soon snapped up for his first full season. Shortly before the chequered flag fell on 2007, dad (and new manager) Charles negotiated terms for his first nternational single-seater season.

Since helping 10-year-old “Jonny boy” sketch his helmet design, mum Gillian and dad Charles – who worked as a motorsport mechanic in the 1960s – have been his strongest supporters. Jon has funded his racing by working in the family property business alongside his father. In his dual role as company CEO and driver manager, an exhausted Charles accompanies his son to the flyaway races, while Gillian still makes time during her busy nine-to-five to attend as many races as possible. “I couldn’t have done it on my own. I’m very lucky that way.”

Jon’s luck turned in 2008, however. During the first race at Hockenheim, he suffered a terrifying accident when his car made contact with a fellow competitor at over 100mph, somersaulting into the air before returning to earth upside down. He simply shrugs this potentially fatal incident aside. “It’s cool being a YouTube hit, but it wasn’t too bad. I had a swollen knee and a bit of a cut hand. I’ve had worse happen. I did a street race once in Rome. I collided with another kid and his rear tyre landed on my left leg, which burnt the skin away practically down to the bone.”

Jon’s determination has brought him a long way from Wombwell. Today, he competes in the Auto GP series against some of Europe’s most talented young racers, and his career direction is clearer than ever. “F1 all the way. There’s never been a shadow of doubt. I’m a Yorkshire man, and things are very black and white up here. You’re either doing it or you’re not. And I know I can do it.”

Back in 2008, despite taking a debut series victory after his accident, Jon was soon struggling to fund his drive. The economic crash left the family business teetering on the brink. “Back in the early days, I was a bit of a carefree spirit. We were making plenty of money and what-not and didn’t have to rely on anybody. Any sponsorship we got came off the bill. Then all of a sudden the recession kicked in.”

Jon was forced to step back down the motorsport ladder to keep his career alive. A hiatus seemed inevitable in 2009 when budget issues saw him lose a contracted drive at the eleventh hour. Though Jon would ultimately compete in the Renault-affiliated single-seater championship for two years, he barely kept his head above water. “Last season was the first time in my entire career that I didn’t win a race. We were in trouble.”

Then came October 18. Just days after the final race of the season, Jon’s elder brother Andy suffered a fatal accident on-site. He was 23 years old.

“What happened brought our family closer together. It makes you realise how fragile life can be sometimes. I mean...if you’d met my brother, you’d think he was indestructible.”

Jon’s website hosts a proud tribute to Andy Lancaster. “After something like that, I’ve been...not a completely different person but... you just, sort of, step it up another gear. Things can change over night. And when they do, you really get a kick up the backside.”

Scraping together his emergency cash, Jon jetted to France for a one-off run in the Formula Two championship. Two sensational drives put him back on the map and several days later, he was signed by the Super Nova team to race in Auto GP. In only his second race weekend came that win at Donington.

“It released so much stress. Things have been absolutely dire, what with everything that’s happened, and for us to get a win at home on merit...it was just so emotional!”

Jon will turn 23 this December, and he feels compelled to make the most of his time.

“Usually I get up in the morning around 7.30, 8 o’clock and start with some training. I have my hands full at work during the day, but in the evenings I go to the local park and do a lot of sprint work, or maybe go to the gym.”

All told, heavy nights out don’t appear much on his calendar. “You see a lot of drivers on Facebook out drinking and partying, but it’s never really interested me. I’m a rather confident, slightly cheeky bloke anyway, so I don’t need the confidence boost!”

Back at Donington, the crowds are still cheering. Jon holds his trophy aloft,. He’s living his dream. Not just for himself, but for the people that gave him his shot, and helped make him the man he is.