Jordan King gave an excellent account of himself in a trio of end-of-season testing outings further up the motor racing ladder, as he outperformed a good many championship regulars with considerably more experience than him – prompting one high-ranking observer to assert that he ‘would do very well in the series’.
Having enjoyed an outstanding 2013 campaign – clinching the prestigious British Formula Three International Series crown at his first attempt and placing a superb sixth overall and comfortably top rookie in the fiercely-contested FIA Formula 3 European Championship – King has taken advantage of the last few weeks to try out three different cars that could play a part in his future as he speeds towards his ultimate goal of Formula 1.
The talented young Warwickshire ace first ensconced himself inside the cockpit of a Carlin-prepared, 530bhp World Series by Renault single-seater at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya. Although his track time was restricted by technical woes, he nevertheless lapped an eminently respectable 15th-fastest amongst the 26 contenders present.
“Despite the difficulties we encountered, the team did a great job as usual and the World Series is definitely a step-up from the F3 car,” King confessed. “It has a lot more power and incredible brakes, which requires a mental adjustment and a completely different style of driving. That said, I got a handle on it pretty quickly and was able to put in a good lap time straight out-of-the-blocks.”
Next up were the official GP3 Series and GP2 Series tests at Yas Marina Circuit – the spectacular setting for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Initially sampling Status Grand Prix’s 175mph GP3 machine, the McLaren Autosport Award finalist, British Racing Drivers’ Club (BRDC) SuperStar and MSA Academy member lapped consistently inside the top 20 as he simultaneously got to grips with the car and ‘amazing’ track layout. Although red flags spoiled his final new-tyre run, the team’s commercial director Tim Scott was palpably impressed with King’s aptitude and approach.
“Where Jordan ended up in the lap times belied how well he did on the day,” he remarked. “Learning a new car, tyre and circuit in just 30 laps is a tall order and his progression was really good. He was a pleasure to work with, very professional and with a good technical understanding. He would do very well in the series.”
Turning it up another notch again the following day, King’s trio of tests culminated in GP2 – F1’s antechamber – and as he traded 400bhp for 612bhp and a jaw-dropping 0-60mph time of less than three seconds, the rapid Stoneleigh-based hotshot indubitably saved his finest form ‘til last.
Driving for former title-winners Barwa Addax and up against rivals of the calibre of 2013 championship runner-up Sam Bird, McLaren protégé and reigning World Series vice-champion Stoffel Vandoorne, FIA Formula 3 European Champion Raffaelle Marciello and GP3 race-winner Tio Ellinas, King completed the first day inside the top half of the 26-strong field and ahead of some very big-hitters indeed. His tremendous progress continued on day two, as the 19-year-old lapped fastest of all to begin with and remained inside the top five for the majority of the afternoon.
He concluded proceedings with the tenth-quickest time in the floodlit evening session, barely three-quarters-of-a-second adrift of the outright benchmark around a long, 110-second lap and in front of the likes of GP3 race-winner Conor Daly, World Series podium-finishers Will Stevens and Jazeman Jaafar and former GP2 race-winner Dani Clos, who had taken the chequered flag as runner-up in the 2013 season finale around the same circuit only the previous weekend. Not a bad few days at the office, all-told.
“We made several changes to the GP3 car, but I struggled to find a set-up that I was comfortable with and that meant I wasn’t able to get the best out of the new tyres,” King confessed. “There was a lot to take in over the course of just a single day and it was a big learning curve – there was definitely potential to go faster.
“I felt better-prepared going into the GP2 test, as I knew the circuit by that point, and I really enjoyed the car – balance-wise, it felt the closest of any of them to F3, although with its extra downforce and carbon brakes, it was a lot quicker down the straights and definitely the most powerful single-seater I’ve ever driven.”
“Despite having little experience of this type of car – quite heavy, with a lot of aerodynamic downforce, carbon brakes and short-life tyres – Jordan acquitted himself very well, quickly coming to terms with the systems and techniques that are the province of experienced GP2 drivers,” commented Barwa Addax technical and sporting director and ex-F1 designer Chris Murphy.
“His performance was very credible, posting lap times which put him amongst and ahead of some of the established GP2 drivers. His self-sufficiency and relaxed manner makes Jordan easy to work with, and all-in-all, I think we can say it was a successful test.”
Whilst his more immediate sights are set on a return to the FIA Formula 3 European Championship and a concerted title tilt in 2014, King admitted that his exploratory testing outings had certainly offered him an enticing and eye-opening glimpse of what may follow.“Overall, it was a great experience and a really beneficial few days,” the Hugo Boss brand ambassador affirmed. “I had the opportunity to work with three excellent teams, and it was interesting to note the differences in the way they operate – it opens up your mind. It gave me a real heads-up for the future and a solid understanding of where I need to be and what I need to be aiming for – I know what I’m working towards now.”
