14th/15th July 2007



Pre-race testing did not tell the full story according to Jon, who remained on a confident ‘high’, as he approached the race weekend at the Formula 1 Hungaroring circuit near Budapest in Hungary.

“I ended Thursday only 17th overall with a 1:45.546s lap”, he explained, which was 1.003s away from the fastest time, “but that does not show how for most of the session I was one of the quickest until we put on new tyres.  It was the same on Friday where I was running in the top five for probably 90% of the time, again until we started to use new tyres.  I am not getting the best from new rubber, as I tend to suffer from monumental understeer, so there is a technique that I need to get into.  Once I adapt to this it will be much better.”

By the end of Friday, and despite his new tyre ‘problem’, Jon had still narrowed the deficit to the fastest driver to only 0.471s, and by the end of the two qualifying sessions on Saturday, the gap was even smaller at only 0.274s. Clearly Jon was getting to grips with the nuances of the rubber and this showed in his grid positions, where he set a best lap of 1:44.522s for grid seven in race one, and a 1:44.595s for grid five in race two.

It was the opening race of the weekend though where Jon made the headlines, as he produced a stunning display of consistent speed, which took him to his first Eurocup podium after only six races.

Jon’s fellow SG Formula team-mate and pole-sitter Jules Bianchi made a mess of his start, and was overtaken by two of his closest rivals, whilst just behind these two, Nelson Panciatici, another of the SG Formula drivers, ran into the back of Alguersuari at the first corner. Bianchi and Markus Niemela (BVM Minardi) were also caught up in this incident, which left Jon with a grandstand view of the proceedings.

“There was a big shunt at the first corner after the start,” Jon said, “which happened right in front of me.  For one second I was looking at the underside of Nelson’s rear wing, although I was just able to thread through the gaps. I reckon there could not have been more than four or five inches between us… it was that close!  By the time the dust had settled I emerged in third place!”

As the safety car came out onto the track, Hartley completed the first lap in the lead, ahead of Marinescu, with Jon next along in that third pace, ahead of Kechele, former kart rival Waldschmidt, Merhi, and the seasoned UK Formula BMW expert Oliver Turvey. 

As the pace car pulled in at the end of lap four, Marinescu locked his wheels at the end of the start-finish straight, opening the way for Jon to get past.  “I think I must have been the only one fully awake at the re-start, because the guy ahead of me just wasn’t on it at all.  Taking second place was so easy and I held this to the flag to finish as runner-up and take my first podium position. 

“You know,” he laughed, “the team just went mental when I crossed the finishing line.  It is only my sixth race and I was on the podium.  The team were just so happy for me. It was so unreal… they were hanging on the fence shaking fists and waving as I came into the pits.  I undid my belts, stood on the car and jumped off.  It was a fantastic feeling!”

Taking part in his first press appearance after the race, Jon’s pleasure was much in evidence, when he commented:  “I am getting better with each race and this first podium finish is a fantastic result for me.  The weekend got off to a good start with good a test session on Friday, and I managed to take that good form into qualifying. I was third at the first corner and I was able to take advantage of Mihai’s error to grab second place.”

Unfortunately a spin in race two (“my fault,” he said honestly) held him back from the prime positions.  “I just locked a wheel, touched the rubbish on the side of the track, and simply spun.  It dropped me back to around 34th place,” although Jon was still able to pick off the drivers ahead of him as he recovered to 25th position by the flag, less than 27 seconds adrift of the winner.

“There are still four weekends to go”, Jon said.  “That’s eight races, and with 15 points for a win, plus one point for fastest lap and pole position, there is still everything to play for.  I am only 40 points away from the Championship leader, and as I am getting faster each race, who knows how the season will finish.  The rounds at Donington Park back home are next and I know the track well.  After two good weekends in succession recently, I am confident of another good result there.”