Exton third in Nissan Micra Cup
Lakefield racer overcomes hurdles to become first Ontario driver to win a series race
There is nothing typical about Jake Exton’s meteoric rise up the Nissan Micra Cup racing series.
The 27-year-old Lakefield driver raced for the first time in May 2017 with only some go-karting as a child in his background.
Sixteen months later, and a 2017 rookie-of-the-year award in his rear-view mirror, Exton became the first Ontario driver to win a series race. He added a second win in the season finale to become the first Ontario driver to finish on the podium in the championship points standings placing third. The 12-race series, split evenly between Ontario and Quebec over six weekends, is an entry level series for aspiring pro drivers.
Not only is he relatively new to the sport, Exton has overcome some hurdles in his life. Growing up in Guildford, England he was diagnosed with gross motor dysfunction a disorder which prevented him from playing most sports.
One thing he could do was handle a steering wheel so his father Nick put him in a go-kart at age seven and he raced until age 16. That’s when his family moved to Canada and Exton’s racing exploits were put on hold to pursue his education.
After graduating from Lakefield College School he got his business degree at Dalhousie University in Halifax. His family bought Hamblin’s Restaurant in Lakefield and Jake returned home to convert it into the Canoe and Paddle Pub he now operates. His parents run the adjoining ice cream parlour.
Exton has also battled depression and used his racing platform this season to be an ambassador for the Canadian Mental Health Association.
One of his patrons, Craig Willoughby, told Exton about his experience on the Nissan Micra Cup series, piquing his interest.
Exton volunteered to join Willoughby’s pit crew and thenin his first trip to the track Willoughby invited him to take a spin around the track.
“I beat his race time by eight seconds,” Exton said. “He, out of nowhere, offered for me to do the first race of the year to see if I could get his car with his company logos on it a little further up the grid.”
In his first race at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park in May 2017, a rim broke and Exton flipped Willoughby’s car into a wall totalling it.
“I thought my racing career was about over before it had begun,” Exton said.
Willoughby bought a used Micra and put Exton back in the driver’s seat. He went on to win rookie-of-the-year honours.
This year, using the same vehicle but now without Willoughby’s sponsorship, Exton took full control the race team with his father as his mechanic. He financed the season, which can cost between $40,000 to $60,000, mostly from his own wage and help from two bar patrons.
He got his first podium finish, second place, at Mont Tremblant and the next weekend in TroisRivieres earned back-to-back podium finishes.
During a post-race interview he dedicated his second place finish to a fellow driver who left the series with anxiety issues. The video attracted a lot of attention on social media and led to Exton’s partnership with CMHA. He held a fundraiser at CTMP late in the season collecting $2,000 for CMHA.
“I’ve had my own battles with anxiety and depression so it’s been a really good motivator for me,” he said.
He has CMHA logos on his car with the slogan Love Over Fear.
He picked up his first pole and win at CTMP that weekend. He picked up another win and set a lap record at Mont Tremblant in the Sept. 30 finale to clinch third overall. “I’m the first Ontario driver to get a championship trophy, a win, a podium, a pole and a lap record.”
He’s seeking a sponsor for 2019. “I’ll be looking to win the whole thing,” he said.