ON THE BRAKES
JACOBSON TAKES HIS FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL FOR NOW AFTER A FRUITFUL SEASON IN DRIVER’S SEAT
Garry Jacobson’s Supercars season has come to a close.
Shepparton’s fastest man on four wheels battled a tight Newcastle 500 circuit as he chased a second Dunlop Super2 Series Championship in three years, but had to settle for third spot overall after a mixed weekend of results.
Jacobson steered his Mega Fuels Nissan into fourth position in Saturday’s race, forced to battle for every inch of track position after qualifying in seventh place.
‘‘Qualifying in seventh wasn’t where the car was in my mind, I was trying to get a lap time in without hitting the fence,’’ Jacobson said.
‘‘I noticed a lot of people struggling under brakes and then that’s how I was able to get up a few spots.’’
Australia’s fastest school bus driver then suited up for his 100th start in the development series on Sunday, but the race was cut short due to a major incident.
Jacobson was positioned in the top four and pushing for more championship points at the time of the red flag, but had to settle for the smallest step on the overall podium due to the non-race.
The result still provides Jacobson with a great platform to work with as he looks to springboard into a full-time V8 Supercars driving gig next season.
Along with this year’s third position and the 2016 title in the Super2 Series, Jacobson has also impressed as a co-driver during the Pirtek Enduro Cup across the past two seasons.
‘‘It was pretty tricky last year coming off the championship (win) and struggling to even get a single podium,’’ Jacobson said.
‘‘In the off-season, I had to make a move and have all my sponsors trust in me and then take another chance on me to bounce back to form and get pole positions and wins.
‘‘To get a third in the championship this year shows that I haven’t dropped away and still have the consistency there needed to get the job done.
‘‘It is a lot more competitive in Super2 than when I won the championship in 2016 and you need some luck to win it at any time, but more so these days. I’m really happy to be the highest placed Nissan after this year, as our team was very strong.
‘‘Winning a championship and finishing third over the last three years is a pretty good sales pitch for a main game seat — Jack Le Brocq did it after finishing third in the series.
‘‘I enjoy my racing and I’m always excited to be part of the Supercars paddock.
‘‘There are plenty of other kids out there that don’t get the opportunities to keep racing — so I want to do it for them.
‘‘If you don’t appreciate motorsport for what it is, you aren’t really a racer at heart — so it is certainly my goal for next year to keep pushing on regardless of where it is.
‘‘Thanks again to everyone that has supported me this year — both corporately, in media and the megapassionate Supercars fanbase.
‘‘The amazing team at Mega Fuels continue to inspire me and give me that confidence. They have stuck by me, guided me and become good friends, along with everyone else that has been on board for the year including Palm Trans, RABBLE.club, Exedy, Challenger Valves and Actuators, McQuinn Electrical and MGA Insurance Brokers. My family do everything to support me and are right there with me through every step of the way.
‘‘This year has been phenomenal, especially through the Pirtek Enduro Cup with Rick Kelly, Castrol and Nissan Motorsport and in Super2 with Matt White Motorsport — Matt and his team really put together a great outfit and I’m proud of what we were able to achieve this year.’’