FORMER Frederickton resident Jaie Robson has created history by becoming the first rookie to win a round in the Aussie Racing Car Championships.
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The 23-year-old overcame 29 opponents in treacherous conditions to win three of the four races at the Symmons Plains Track in Tasmania in his third time competing in the competition.
The opening day saw Robson claim both races, after he qualified in second position.
His third race at the Tasmania Supercars Supersprint weekend was a reverse grid event, which meant Robson, as the race 1 and 2 winner, was faced with his biggest challenge and began from near the back of the pack.
“Unfortunately I missed the start and dropped from 14th to last but I was able to pick my way through the field making my way to third at the chequered flag,” Robson said.
He capped off his most successful weekend in motorsport with a win in the final race.
After the success in Hobart and mixed results at the opening 2017 event in Adelaide, Robson is in the top five of the overall Aussie Racing Car Championships with the official points still to be finalised and released.
“I want to win the championship, especially now that I am a contender and it is a realistic outcome,” Robson said.
“The goal is always to win and to earn that first place finish.”
Robson moved to Frederickton in 2003 and spent three years in the area and attended Frederickton Public School before moving back to Sydney in 2006 with his father to further his racing career.
His racing ambitions began as a seven-year-old when he first began go-karting and competed on a national level from 2010 to 2015.
He stepped it up a notch and entered the Nissan Pulsar Series in 2016 where he had instant success.
“I won a few races and I hold a few lap records at a couple of different tracks,” Robson said.
His achievements gave him confidence to back his ability and enter the inaugural 2016 Aussie Driver Search competition and he was selected alongside 119 other drivers to compete for the first prize, entry into Round 4 of the Aussie Racing Cars.
Robson was judged the Aussie Driver Search champion and won the opportunity to compete at the Queensland Raceway in July 2016.
“I showed some decent pace at the event and I decided I wanted to compete in the championship after that weekend,” he said.
The next event for the 2017 Aussie Racing Car Championships will be held at Perth from May 5 to May 7.
There are four more rounds after the Perth event, with the championships concluding in Newcastle on November 24 to November 26.
“I want to do well this season and hopefully get into something bigger and better next year. We just have to wait and see what happens,” Robson said.
Robson hasn’t ruled out one day competing in the V8 Supercars but recognises it’s difficult to get a start.
“To get there you need to have five to six million dollars,” he said.
“It is an expensive sport to be involved in and without my current sponsors I wouldn’t be able to compete.”