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Meet the teams: JRM World Rallycross Team

The third interview with a member of the FIA World Rallycross Championship paddock is with Great Britain's Nick Jones, who works as number one mechanic on Liam Doran's JRM Racing Mini RX.

Q: What does being a number one mechanic on a World RX Supercar involve?

NJ: "We prepare the car and make sure it's as ready as possible all the time. After a race, Liam communicates with the engineer, the engineer speaks to me and I communicate to the other mechanics about what we need to do. I'm in charge of overseeing that what needs to be done to the car gets done. But, I'm also the truck driver, so I drive the race truck to the events too."

Q: Are there any restrictions on the number of mechanics that can work on a World RX Supercar?

NJ: "You're allowed five mechanics to work on the car. There is a camera in the awning so the FIA can monitor the number of mechanics that work on the car at any time."

Q: What's the best thing about being a mechanic in World RX?

NJ: "My background is in rallycross, first of all as a driver. If you're not driving, working in the paddock like this is the very next best thing. Having driven I have a bit of experience of what is required. There's a lot of excitement and we are all here for the same reason, to win!"

Q: What are the biggest challenges with your role?

NJ: "When things go wrong, when there are problems. It can be quite hard. There can be late nights too, sometimes lots of them, but they are part of it."

Q: How does your role differ on event to being at JRM's workshop?

NJ: "At the events you have more time restraints. In the workshop you have all the equipment, the fabrication shop, the machining shop all there, so if we need anything making we can do it straight away with extra people too. In the paddock you need to think on your feet all the time, and react quickly."

Q: You mentioned that you've driven before, what did you do?

NJ: "From the age of 13 I was helping a friend with his rally car. He then went into rallycross and I went with him. I didn't get paid, but as a thank you, I was allowed to race in the last round of the Nova Challenge championship in 1990 at Lydden and finished fourth. I did that for two years, then moved to Group N cars and won the British Championship twice. In the second year, I won the British round of the European Championship at Croft, but without the budget needed, that was the end of my driving career really."

Q: Where else have you worked aside from with JRM in World RX?

NJ: "I've done all sorts, I worked with Nissan's rally project for three years, then went onto the Hyundai World Rally Team and then to Suzuki in the Junior World Rally Championship. Since, I've done more rallying before coming back into rallycross in 2012. I worked with Jacques Villeneuve and Albatec Racing, and now with JRM."

Q: You've been in the sport a long time, how has it changed?

NJ: "I'm a bit old school rallycross, but I have to say that IMG have done a fantastic job with building it into what it is today. It's massive now, very professional with good TV coverage and some massive names. It's a fantastic sport and it's fantastic to be involved."

Q: What advice would you give to anybody wanting to work as a mechanic in World RX?

NJ: "Really, you need to go to college and university and get an engineering degree, but at the same time you can't beat hands-on experience, so if you've got friends or can get to know a team then do anything and learn all you can. If you want to do it enough then chase after it."

Thanks Nick!

Is there anyone in the World RX paddock you'd like to know more about? Get in touch and let us know.

Zdroj: fiaworldrallycross.com