PETRONAS Motorsports Talent Development - Jazeman Jaafar
News
February 2012

Jazeman Jaafar continues in British F3 with Carlin

Jazeman Jaafar returns to British F3 this year, staying with Carlin, the team which he has raced with for the previous two years in this prestigious championship. The PETRONAS-supported young Malaysian driver had a strong season of racing in 2011, finishing sixth in the championship with four podiums and 18 top five finishes. This promising teenager is keen to build on his experience and success of the previous two seasons of racing in the championship which is recognised as a critical step on the motorsport ladder.
 
Jazeman says of his decision, “At only 19, I have time on my side to cement my racing skills in the most competitive, prestigious championship at this level. I have learned so much in the two years that I’ve been in this series and I want to continue learning in the most appropriate environment for me at this stage of my career.

“I’m chasing the elusive first win in British F3 and I’m totally determined to achieve this in the coming season, as well as to improve further to finish in the top three. Of course, winning the championship outright is the goal and I have the motivation and experience to do this, as well as the team around me.

The Malaysian driver adds, “Having the continuity of staying with Carlin is vital to me. It means that we can hit the ground running with the new model of car which we’re all racing this season and as I know all the mechanics and have built a good rapport with my engineer, we’ll be straight into the development work from the first test of the year. “

Team boss, Trevor Carlin, welcomes Jazeman’s return to the team for 2012 saying, “Jazeman had a very strong season last year and was consistently one of the front runners. He has made a good decision to stay in British F3, as it is the best foundation a driver can have, with plenty of testing and three races at every event which. This track time is invaluable for Jazeman to hone his racecraft skills and prepare himself for the next rung of the motorsport ladder. There’s no reason why he’s not a title contender again this season.”

Jazeman began his career in karting at the age of 6, competing in his home country of Malaysia at the local tracks. He then progressed to Asian championships and on to Europe before stepping up to single-seaters six years ago. In his first season of racing cars, Jaafar took third in the Formula Renault Asia Championship and the following year, stepping up to Formula BMW Asia, he took the championship title with 10 wins, 16 podiums and 5 fastest laps.

In 2008 Jazeman moved to Europe to race, competing in Formula BMW Europe for two years and then moving to the British F3 International Series. In the two years he has been competing in this championship, the recognised feeder series for future F1 stars, Jazeman has earned 6 podiums, moving ever closer to his first win. In 2011 the young Malaysian combined his British F3 campaign with competing in a new series, the FIA F3 International Trophy, which included Macau Grand Prix and F3 Masters at Zandvoort, two races which Jazeman competed in in 2010 as well. In his first season of the F3 International Trophy he finished a creditable seventh overall.