The right formula

By Ben Hope
FOR Upper Beaconsfield teenager Jack Le Brocq, the opportunity to race at the 2010 Grand Prix is a dream come true.
The 17-year-old was recently named as one of two Confederation of Australian Motorsport (CAMS) Rising Stars and will race a Formula Ford in a 26-car field at the Australian F1 Grand Prix this weekend.
“We have a qualifying and practice race on the Grand Prix track on Thursday and then two eight-lap races on Saturday and Sunday, before the big race,” he said.
“We began testing in Queensland over the last few months and now I can’t wait to hit the track and race against some of the best drivers in Australia.”
The aim of the CAMS Rising Star Program is to identify and fast-track the development of young Australian drivers from the junior ranks to national and international competition through clearly defined and supported pathways.
As part of the program the drivers will race their Formula Ford’s at eight V8 meetings around Australia with the Grand Prix event the first of the series.
The rising stars also have access to media training, a sports psychologist, AIS training camps and mentoring by racing identities.
Jack’s friend and fellow racer Matthew Brabham was also selected for the program.
“When I got the call to say I had made it into the Rising Stars program it was a really happy moment,” Jack said.
“It meant I could move up to the next level in racing. Formula Ford’s are a similar size to the Formula Vee’s I have been racing, but they have more horsepower.”
The teeneager found his love for motorsport at age seven when he began racing go-karts.
When he was 16 he moved up to Open Wheel Formula Vee’s and recently had three round wins at state and a second place in the national title.
Jack said his uncle and dad used to race go-karts and he would go along to the race meetings.
“I got interested in the sport and when I finally turned seven my dad sold his go kart and bought me one,” he said.
When he isn’t behind the wheel Jack works as an apprentice mechanic with Caldermeade’s Minda Motorsport.
“I left school at the start of Year 11 and have been doing my apprenticeship for a year now,” he said.
“I love the atmosphere and just love being around cars. At this stage all I want to do is be a mechanic or an engineer, but it’s early days yet, so I’ll see how I go.”
Australian Motor Sport Foundations (AMSF) general manager Martin Stillman said the rising star program had recruited two very talented drivers for 2010.
“Both Jack and Matthew deserve their place in the CAMS Rising Star team, each having enormous potential and scope for further development on their natural ability,” he said.
“I’m looking forward to watching their progress as drivers next year.”