matespace
05-04-2012, 01:22 AM
http://www.worldtimeattack.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/jake-jones-1-567x350.jpg
After qualifying number one in 2011 Jake ‘Drift Squid’ Jones is set to return to the Tectaloy International Drift Challenge this year and it will be very interesting to see him on track after having driven in Japan in Team Orange’s Subaru.
Jake will be heading over next week to drive at a D1GP round after being invited by Team Orange to spend a week at Ebisu training, then compete at the “Tokyo Drift” round in Odaiba.
http://www.worldtimeattack.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/driftsquid-567x379.jpg
With an experience like that, Jake is sure to return to Australia with the driving experience no other Aussie drifter can compare to.
We caught up with Jake before he headed over to Japan…
Superlap Australia
Not long now until you’re in Japan competing with the world’s finest, are you nervous?
Jake Jones
Very nervous! I still can’t believe I have been given this opportunity. My wildest dreams are coming true, its amazing. Driving in Japan was very different and the driving in the iconic Team Orange Subaru is going to be something else, something nothing one can compare to! The whole thing is so nerve racking, I’m going to be up against Japans finest, the guys I have watched on TV since I was young. WOW!
http://www.worldtimeattack.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/driftsquid3-567x379.jpg
SL
How did this opportunity come about?
JJ
When I was in Japan last year I met up with Ian (from Hi Octane Racing) Tats (from Yokohama Australia) and Furitani-san (from Yokohama Japan) and they took me to a meeting with Yokohama Japan where I met Kumakubo. The next thing I know he was inviting me to drive one of his cars at Ebisu the next day, when I got back to Australia they invited me to head over for the D1GP Round to compete in their Subaru… the rest is history!
http://www.worldtimeattack.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/jake-team-orange-567x378.jpg
SL
Tell us about how you got involved with drifting?
JJ
I watched an Option DVD when I was 13 and just knew I had to do it! There was something about it I just could not resist, a passion before I even got started. Once I started driving it was such a huge part of my life. Just couldn’t live without it!
SL
How long have you been competing?
JJ
My first big competition was in 2008 at Drift Australia in the Super Drift series. Since then I have competed, at state comps, national comps and international comps . In 2010 after the demise of Drift Australia I shipped my car to New Zealand and competed in D1 NZ for that season before returning it for the 2011 Tectaloy International Drift Challenge at World Time Attack Challenge. After competing against the D1NZ guys I knew they where always going to be hard to beat.
http://www.worldtimeattack.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/jake-jones-2-567x376.jpg
SL
What has been your best drift experience to date?
JJ
Drifting in Ebisu in the snow when Team Orange invited me up to drive one of their cars. It was so unexpected and I was absolutely blown away! I couldn’t believe I had even met these guys, and the next thing I knew I was driving on their circuit in their S14. They have now invited me to compete in their Subaru in the next round of D1GP, I am so excited I don’t even know where to begin! My Japanese isn’t so great so I’m working on that at the moment but the fact I will be competing in D1 in a Team Orange Subaru is something I could only ever dream of, I still can’t believe its happening!
http://www.worldtimeattack.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Jake-Jones-skidd-567x265.jpg
photo Sam Kroepsch
SL
Tell us more about the car you’ll be competing in this year, any changes?
JJ
Well it will be the same Onevia with a few refinements. Firstly it now has a new PPG dog engagement gearbox and the engine has had a freshen up. Empire Aero have supplied me with one of their latest body kits and the whole lot will receive some fresh war paint still to the same theme though. Fit some fresh Advan Neova ADO8s and we will be ready to take on the best in the business!
SL
Who are you looking forward to battling at the Tectaloy International Drift Challenge this year?
JJ
Rumor is some D1 drivers are heading over, so it will be awesome to battle them on our home turf!
http://www.worldtimeattack.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/driftsquid2.bmp
For a full driver profile click here (http://clixtrac.com/goto/?71753)
After qualifying number one in 2011 Jake ‘Drift Squid’ Jones is set to return to the Tectaloy International Drift Challenge this year and it will be very interesting to see him on track after having driven in Japan in Team Orange’s Subaru.
Jake will be heading over next week to drive at a D1GP round after being invited by Team Orange to spend a week at Ebisu training, then compete at the “Tokyo Drift” round in Odaiba.
http://www.worldtimeattack.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/driftsquid-567x379.jpg
With an experience like that, Jake is sure to return to Australia with the driving experience no other Aussie drifter can compare to.
We caught up with Jake before he headed over to Japan…
Superlap Australia
Not long now until you’re in Japan competing with the world’s finest, are you nervous?
Jake Jones
Very nervous! I still can’t believe I have been given this opportunity. My wildest dreams are coming true, its amazing. Driving in Japan was very different and the driving in the iconic Team Orange Subaru is going to be something else, something nothing one can compare to! The whole thing is so nerve racking, I’m going to be up against Japans finest, the guys I have watched on TV since I was young. WOW!
http://www.worldtimeattack.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/driftsquid3-567x379.jpg
SL
How did this opportunity come about?
JJ
When I was in Japan last year I met up with Ian (from Hi Octane Racing) Tats (from Yokohama Australia) and Furitani-san (from Yokohama Japan) and they took me to a meeting with Yokohama Japan where I met Kumakubo. The next thing I know he was inviting me to drive one of his cars at Ebisu the next day, when I got back to Australia they invited me to head over for the D1GP Round to compete in their Subaru… the rest is history!
http://www.worldtimeattack.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/jake-team-orange-567x378.jpg
SL
Tell us about how you got involved with drifting?
JJ
I watched an Option DVD when I was 13 and just knew I had to do it! There was something about it I just could not resist, a passion before I even got started. Once I started driving it was such a huge part of my life. Just couldn’t live without it!
SL
How long have you been competing?
JJ
My first big competition was in 2008 at Drift Australia in the Super Drift series. Since then I have competed, at state comps, national comps and international comps . In 2010 after the demise of Drift Australia I shipped my car to New Zealand and competed in D1 NZ for that season before returning it for the 2011 Tectaloy International Drift Challenge at World Time Attack Challenge. After competing against the D1NZ guys I knew they where always going to be hard to beat.
http://www.worldtimeattack.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/jake-jones-2-567x376.jpg
SL
What has been your best drift experience to date?
JJ
Drifting in Ebisu in the snow when Team Orange invited me up to drive one of their cars. It was so unexpected and I was absolutely blown away! I couldn’t believe I had even met these guys, and the next thing I knew I was driving on their circuit in their S14. They have now invited me to compete in their Subaru in the next round of D1GP, I am so excited I don’t even know where to begin! My Japanese isn’t so great so I’m working on that at the moment but the fact I will be competing in D1 in a Team Orange Subaru is something I could only ever dream of, I still can’t believe its happening!
http://www.worldtimeattack.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Jake-Jones-skidd-567x265.jpg
photo Sam Kroepsch
SL
Tell us more about the car you’ll be competing in this year, any changes?
JJ
Well it will be the same Onevia with a few refinements. Firstly it now has a new PPG dog engagement gearbox and the engine has had a freshen up. Empire Aero have supplied me with one of their latest body kits and the whole lot will receive some fresh war paint still to the same theme though. Fit some fresh Advan Neova ADO8s and we will be ready to take on the best in the business!
SL
Who are you looking forward to battling at the Tectaloy International Drift Challenge this year?
JJ
Rumor is some D1 drivers are heading over, so it will be awesome to battle them on our home turf!
http://www.worldtimeattack.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/driftsquid2.bmp
For a full driver profile click here (http://clixtrac.com/goto/?71753)