Aston Martin has introduced 18 12 months previous, American, Jak Crawford as its growth driver. The deal comes on the heels of him touchdown a brand new F2 contract with DAMS.
“Jak had a really productive 4 years being contracted to Purple Bull, and we noticed this transfer to Aston Martin as a technique to put Jak into an intimate F1 driver growth function,” stated Rick Gorne, Crawford’s UK based mostly motorsports advisor. “We imagine that the street to F1 is evolving. We needed good, purposeful driver growth with important automotive alternatives and that’s what Aston Martin will ship for Jak.”
The programme will set up, not solely, a piece surroundings for Crawford within the Aston Martin simulator, but additionally, critically, will present the teenager with Testing of Earlier F1 Automobile time, in addition to a number of present F1 automotive classes over a two-year interval. Crawford’s function within the crew might be diversified together with serving as a model ambassador, in addition to a reserve and sim driver.
“Jak made a really optimistic impression together with his intensive work within the 2023 F1 simulator for Purple Bull, and that was an essential constructing block for this settlement,” stated Gorne. “He has constructed up an completed popularity on F1 sim equipment as a really quick, constant driver with distinctive suggestions for automotive growth. This expertise has turn out to be a worthwhile a part of Jak’s resume and performs an element in his new function. Nonetheless, the primary precedence will at all times be on Jak’s F2 season.”
Crawford accomplished his first 12 months in F2 with Hitech GP. In racing, a season is greatest judged by evaluating teammate-to-teammate. Within the case of Crawford in 2023, he received in each class: season ending championship order, head-to-head qualifying positions, race tempo, points-paying wins, podiums, and poles.
“Jak has pure tempo expertise in any sim or automotive,” stated Gorne. “There have been solely seven pole place drivers in F2 in 2023. Six of the drivers have been within the high 4 championship ending groups, and people drivers have been within the high six ending positions. Jak was the one different pole man.
“It’s a spec sequence, however everyone knows the groups are usually not equal. Contemplating this, Jak was an excellent rookie in 2023 in our estimation.”
F2 staged the normal 2023 finish of season check in late November. Crawford’s three-day check together with his new DAMS crew offered nice hope for 2024. The qualifying tempo was evident and the race tempo was even higher. For 2024, Crawford will concentrate on second 12 months consistency whereas attacking the F2 championship.
New sponsors might be introduced earlier than the season begins.
