Alan Jones (racing driver)
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Entries | 117 (116 starts) |
---|---|
Championships | 1 (1980) |
Wins | 12 |
Podiums | 24 |
Career points | 199 (206)[1] |
Pole positions | 6 |
Fastest laps | 13 |
First entry | 1975 Spanish Grand Prix |
First win | 1977 Austrian Grand Prix |
Last win | 1981 Caesars Palace Grand Prix |
Last entry | 1986 Australian Grand Prix |
Alan Stanley Jones,
Jones is also the last Australian driver to win the Australian Grand Prix, winning the 1980 event at Calder Park Raceway, having lapped the field consisting mostly of Formula 5000 cars while he was driving his Formula One Championship winning Williams FW07B.
Early life and career
Jones attended
In late 1970, Jones signed with a firm for whom McGuire was working, designed to promote drivers' interests and was selected to compete in a series of races in Brazil.[5] However, in his first two races the engine failed and in the third the gearbox broke, which meant the opportunity ended.[6]
For 1971, Jones campaigned a Brabham BT 28 converted to BT35 specification,[6] in Formula Three and had a moderately successful season which led to a series of tests for March at Silverstone. However, despite the success of the test, Jones was not offered a drive by March and for 1972, drove a GRD in Formula Three.[7] Jones did enough that season to be kept on by GRD for the next year with a new sponsor and only lost the 1973 championship due to a misfiring engine in the last round at Brands Hatch.[8] In 1974, Jones began the season in Formula Atlantic but felt it was a very amateurish effort, but a chance meeting with Harry Stiller led to a drive in the latter's March 74. At the end of the season, Jones made his F5000 debut for Stiller in the final round of the European Championship at Brands Hatch in a Chevron B24/28 owned by John MacDonald. It was planned to enter Formula 5000 for 1975.[9] However, Stiller's initial plans fell through but after some delay, during which Jones was effectively unemployed, Stiller arranged to purchase a Formula One Hesketh 308 and signed Jones to drive the car.[10]
Formula One
1975–1977: Hesketh, Hill, Surtees and Shadow
His first race was the
He earned his first full-time Formula One drive in 1976, in John Surtees' team. Jones' car was known for its infamous Durex sponsorship which led the BBC refusing to cover Formula One races during the season.[12] He managed several good finishes in the TS19, a fourth in Japan in the final race of the season being the best of them.[11] Jones refused to drive for Surtees in 1977, preferring to sit out a season than continue with the team.[13]
Jones was racing in America when he was signed by the Shadow team as a replacement for Tom Pryce, who had been killed in a freak racing accident in South Africa. He made the most of the opportunity and won at the Österreichring for his maiden victory, finishing seventh in the championship, with 22 points.
1978–1981: Williams
By late 1977, he had caught the attention of
Jones won seven races in 1980, although the Spanish Grand Prix was later removed from the championship and the Australian Grand Prix was a non-championship race, so only five counted towards the Championship. Throughout the season he had a car which consistently made the podium, and he achieved ten during the year. At the end of the season he had beaten Nelson Piquet by 13 points in the standings, becoming Australia's first World Champion since Sir Jack Brabham. He had a good chance to repeat his success in 1981, but a very combative relationship with Carlos Reutemann led to an intense rivalry that possibly cost both drivers a chance at the championship. He finished four points behind Piquet for the championship and three behind Reutemann.
After winning the championship in 1980, Jones and Williams competed in the then non-championship Australian Grand Prix at Calder Park in November. Driving his FW07B against a field consisting mostly of Formula 5000's (and Bruno Giacomelli's Alfa Romeo 179), Jones, who had previously finished 4th in the race in 1977 (he was penalised 60 seconds for a jumped start, and officially finished just 20 seconds behind winner Warwick Brown showing that if not for the penalty he would have won by 40 seconds), joined his father Stan as a winner of the Australian Grand Prix.
From 1979 to 1981, Jones was awarded the No.1 driver of the season by the editor of the AUTOCOURSE annual. During his championship year in 1980, the AUTOCOURSE editor awarded Jones the No.1 slot not just because he was World Champion but because in the editor's opinion "Jones extracted every ounce of potential from the Williams FW07 -and more importantly, he did it consistently. All season Jones never gave anything less than his best." In 1981 despite missing the championship, the AUTOCOURSE editor still gave the No.1 driver award to Jones because "in 1981 Alan Jones was outstanding, his racing instincts sharper than ever, his driving aggressive and confident."
Later Formula One career: 1982–1986
Jones announced his retirement after the 1981 season, which he managed to cap with a win in
During a 2012 Grand Prix Legends interview, Jones revealed that he had been contacted by
Jones did not compete in Formula One during
and Renault, than any lack of effort from the team and its drivers.At the end of the 1986 season after the Haas team lost its sponsorship and ran out of money, Jones retired from Formula One for good having won 12 races, 6 pole positions and one World Championship.
Post Formula One career
Sports and Touring Car racing
Jones' post Formula One career was initially spasmodic in nature. Briefly in demand for his services as a Touring Car co-driver, he raced occasionally in his home country's biggest endurance race, the
Jones was quickly snapped up as teammate to Colin Bond in Bond's newly formed factory supported Network Alfa touring car team for the 1985 Australian Touring Car Championship driving an underpowered Alfa Romeo GTV6 in Australia's first full year using the international Group A touring car rules. After some giant killing performances in the early rounds of the championship, Jones abandoned his first serious ATCC campaign to make his second Formula One comeback with the Haas Lola team.
Jones joined Kremer Racing for the
On 20 September 1987 at
By this point the team was sundering apart and Jones took the major sponsor (
CART
In August 1985, one month before his return to Formula One at the Italian Grand Prix, Jones' association with Team Haas owner Carl Haas saw him used as a substitute for injured
A1 Grand Prix
Jones then become involved in the Australian franchise of the A1 Grand Prix as Team Director in 2005 until the series demise in 2010.
Grand Prix Masters
He attempted to race in the Grand Prix Masters World Series at Kyalami in November 2005 but had to pull out before qualifying due to neck pains.
Media
After retiring from F1 for good after 1986, Jones became a commentator with
In March 2013, Jones signed with
Author
His autobiography AJ: How Alan Jones Climbed to the top of Formula One has been co-authored with motorsport writer Andrew Clarke was released in August 2017 by Penguin Random House.
Personal life
Jones separated from his wife Beverley in the late 1980s. In 1996 he began a relationship with Amanda Butler Davis and in 2001 their twins, Zara and Jack, were born.
Jones also has a daughter, Camilla, born in 1990.
Jones' adopted son Christian now races in various forms of motorsport.
His eldest daughter, Emma, has two daughters (born 2001 and 2004).
Honours
Jones was made a Member of the
Jones and his father Stan, along with Graham and Damon Hill, and Keke and Nico Rosberg, are the only father/son combinations to ever win the Australian Grand Prix.
Racing record
Career summary
Complete World Sportscar Championship results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
Year | Entrant | Class | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | Pos. | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1974 | Victoria Sporting Club | S 2.0 |
Chevron B21 | L4
|
MNZ
|
SPA
|
NÜR
|
IMO
|
LMS | ÖST | GLN | LEC | BRH Ret |
KYA | [N 1] | ||
1975 | Steward Chubb Racing | S 2.0 |
Lola T294
|
L4
|
DAY | MUG | DIJ 12 |
MNZ 14 |
SPA Ret |
PER | NÜR 15 |
ÖST
|
GLN | [N 1] | |||
1983
|
Porsche Kremer Racing
|
C | Porsche 956 | F6 t
|
MNZ
|
SIL 5 |
NÜR
|
LMS | SPA | FUJ | KYA | 38th | 8 | ||||
1984 | Porsche Kremer Racing
|
C1 | Porsche 956B
|
F6 t
|
MNZ | SIL | LMS 6 |
NÜR | BRH | MOS | SPA | IMO
|
FUJ | KYA | 49th | 9 | |
Rothmans Porsche
|
Porsche 956 | SAN 8 | |||||||||||||||
1985
|
TWR Jaguar | C1 | Jaguar XJR-6 | Jaguar 6.2 V12 | MUG | MNZ | SIL | LMS | HOC | MOS | SPA | BRH Ret |
FUJ | SHA | NC | 0 | |
1987
|
Tom's
|
C1 | Toyota 87C | L4 t
|
JAR | JER | MNZ | SIL | LMS Ret |
NOR | BRH | NÜR | SPA | FUJ Ret |
NC | 0 |
- Footnotes
Complete European F5000 Championship results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap.)
Year | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | Pos. | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1974 | Custom Made Harry Stiller Racing | Chevron B24/B28 | Chevrolet 5.0 V8 | BRH | MAL | SIL | OUL | BRH | ZOL
|
THR | ZAN
|
MUG | MNZ
|
MAL | MON | THR | BRH | OUL | SNE
|
MAL | BRH Ret |
NC | 0 |
1975 | RAM Racing | Chevron B28 | Chevrolet 5.0 V8 | BRH | OUL | BRH | SIL | ZOL
|
ZAN Ret |
THR | 7th | 64 | |||||||||||
March 75A | Ford GAA 3.4 V6 | SNE DNS |
MAL Ret |
THR 3 |
BRH 1 |
OUL Ret |
SIL 1 |
SNE Ret |
MAL 3 |
BRH NC |
Complete Formula One World Championship results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap.)
Non-championship Formula One results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap.)
Year | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1975 | Custom Made Harry Stiller Racing | Hesketh 308B | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | ROC | INT 7 |
SUI |
1976 | Durex Team Surtees | Surtees TS19 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | ROC 2 |
INT 8 |
|
1979 | Albilad-Saudia Racing Team | Williams FW07 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | ROC | GNM 1 |
DIN |
1980 | Albilad-Williams Racing Team
|
Williams FW07B | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | ESP 1 |
||
1981
|
TAG Williams Racing Team | Williams FW07C | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | RSA Ret |
||
1983
|
Arrows Racing Team | Arrows A6 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | ROC 3 |
||
Source:[17]
|
Complete Shellsport International Series results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap.)
Year | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | Pos. | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1976 | Theodore Racing Hong Kong | Lola T330 | Chevrolet 5.0 V8 | MAL | SNE
|
OUL Ret |
BRH 1 |
THR | BRH | MAL | SNE
|
BRH | THR | OUL | BRH | BRH | 16th | 22 |
American open-wheel racing
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap.)
USAC Championship Car
Year | Team | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Pos. | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1977 | Theodore Racing | McLaren M16C | Offy 159 ci t | ONT DNS |
PHX
|
TWS | TRE | INDY | MIL | POC | MOS
|
MCH | TWS | MIL | ONT | MCH | PHX
|
NA | - |
CART PPG Indy Car World Series
Year | Team | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | Pos. | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1985
|
Newman/Haas Racing | Lola T900
|
Cosworth DFX V8 t | LBH | INDY | MIL
|
POR | MEA | CLE | MCH
|
ROA 3 |
POC
|
MDO
|
SAN
|
MCH
|
LAG
|
PHX
|
MIA | 23rd | 14 |
Complete Can-Am Challenge Cup results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
Year | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | DC | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1977 | Phoenix Racing | Shadow DN4B | Dodge | MTT |
LAG |
GLN |
ROA |
MDO |
MOS 25 |
CTR |
SPR 11 |
RIR 33 |
NC | 0 | |
1978 | Carl A. Haas Racing Team | Lola T333CS | Chevrolet | ROA 1 |
CMS 2 |
MDO 1 |
MTT Ret |
GLN 15 |
ROA 1 |
MOS 1 |
CTR 3 |
LAG |
RIR 1 |
1st | 2712 |
1979 | Carl A. Haas Racing Team | Lola T333CS | Chevrolet | ROA | CMS | MOS | MDO 1 |
GLN | ROA | BIR | CTR | LAG |
RIR Ret |
6th | 9 |
Complete European Formula Two Championship results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)
Year | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | Pos. | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1977 | Fred Opert Racing | Chevron B40 | Hart
|
SIL | THR | HOC | NÜR 19 |
VAL
|
PAU | MUG | ROU | NOG | PER | MIS
|
EST
|
DON | NC | 0 |
Complete BMW M1 Procar Championship results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)
Year | Entrant | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | DC | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1979 | BMW Motorsport | ZOL | MCO | DIJ 2 |
SIL 5 |
HOC Ret |
ÖST Ret |
ZAN 8 |
MNZ Ret |
10th | 27 | |
1980 | BMW Motorsport | DON 3 |
AVS 7 |
MCO 4 |
NOR 5 |
BRH 2 |
HOC Ret |
ÖST 8 |
ZAN 4 |
IMO 2 |
2nd | 77 |
Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results
Year | Team | Co-drivers | Car | Class | Laps | Pos. | Class pos. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1984 | Porsche Kremer Racing
|
Vern Schuppan Jean-Pierre Jarier |
Porsche 956B
|
C1 | 337 | 6th | 6th |
1987 | Tom's
|
Geoff Lees Eje Elgh |
Toyota 87C | C1 | 19 | DNF | DNF |
Source:[18]
|
V8 Supercar Championship results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
Complete Asia-Pacific Touring Car Championship results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap.)
Year | Team | Car | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Pos. | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1988 | Caltex CXT Racing Team | Ford Sierra RS500
|
BAT 3 |
WEL 4 |
PUK Ret |
FUJ | 2nd | 49 |
Complete Bathurst 1000 results
* Super Touring race
Complete Grand Prix Masters results
(key)
Year | Team | Chassis | Engine | 1 |
---|---|---|---|---|
2005
|
Team Golden Palace | Delta Motorsport GPM | Nicholson McLaren 3.5 V8 | RSA DNS |
References
Notes
- ^ a b Up until 1990, not all points scored by a driver contributed to their final World Championship tally (see list of points scoring systems for more information). Numbers without parentheses are Championship points; numbers in parentheses are total points scored.
- ISBN 0-85059-320-4.
- ^ ISBN 0851127029.
- ^ ISBN 0091462401.
- ISBN 0091462401.
- ^ ISBN 0091462401.
- ISBN 0091462401.
- ISBN 0091462401.
- ISBN 0091462401.
- ISBN 0091462401.
- ^ ISBN 0851127029.
- ISBN 9780143783831| Page =82
- ISBN 9780143783831| Page =91
- ^ "In the hot seat". Motor Sport magazine. April 2004. p. 12. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
- ^ "Jones, Alan Stanley, MBE". It's an Honour. Archived from the original on 3 October 2013. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
- ^ "Alan Jones". Sport Australia Hall of Fame. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
- ^ "Alan Jones - Involvement Non World Championship". statsf1.com. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
- ^ "All Results of Alan Jones". racingsportscars.com. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
Bibliography
- Jones, Alan; Botsford, Keith (1981). Driving Ambition. London: Stanley Paul. ISBN 0091462401.
- Jones, Alan; Clarke, Andrew (2017). AJ: How Alan Jones Climbed to the Top of Formula 1. North Sydney: Penguin Random House Australia. ISBN 9780143783831.
External links
- Richard's F1 interview with Alan Jones
- Motor Sport Magazine: Lunch with... Alan Jones, by Simon Taylor (April 2008)
- Alan Jones career summary at DriverDB.com
- Alan Jones driver statistics at Racing-Reference