Following on from his sensational 4th placed April race debut at Silverstone, in the opening round of the 2003 BARC Formula Renault Championship, 18-year old James Gornall emerged as one of the new rising stars in the motor sport arena. 



It was only just before Christmas 2002 when Gornall sat in a single-seater BARC Formula Renault racing car for the first time. To the surprise of many, apart perhaps from of his closely-knit and highly supportive family team, he was immediately on the pace and all but matched the lap times of the BARC race outfits regular driver within 20-laps. It was a dynamic performance from the former 2001 British Formula TKM Super 1 Champion, and one that was not lost on the team management of JA Motorsport. 

Gornall’s speed, and the quick and early impression made, immediately led to tentative steps being put in place, as both JA Motorsport and James negotiated for a suitable deal for the 2003 season, which would be satisfactory to both parties. By the time Gornall appeared at the Elf/Hill House Hammond Super 1 Series Awards presentation, held at the Grove based Williams GP Formula 1 factory in late January 2003, the final deal was ready for signature. The highest levels of karting had just lost another top driver to the next motor sport rung…


Me, aged three with dad's motorbike helmet on. Start the way you mean to go on! (Photo: Dad)

Although just 18-years old as he starts his 2003 single-seater campaign, James Gornall’s earlier karting experience actually takes him back to April 1995, where he made his novice debut in the Formula Cadet category. Prior to that though an early impression of the sport came from an indoor kart centre visit in Peterborough.

“My first karting experience was at an indoor track in Peterborough in mid-1994. It was my mum’s idea, and she suggested my dad take me to have a look. I was quicker than he was straight away! At this time I was 9-years old. My dad thought racing at that time was expensive, because it cost him £10 every Saturday morning!” Little did he know at that time what was to come! 

“After winning an indoor championship in early 1995, the track owner suggested my dad let me have a go outdoors (MSA). My Dad bought an old Wright Cadet kart from Tim Parrott and my first race was at P.F International in April 1995. I raced in Cadets until November that year, with my best result being a 3rd place at P.F International.”


The 'Jig Racing' family team. R to L, Me, Dad (Ian), Mum (Sandra) and sister (Gemma) (Photo: Chris Walker)

Money was always tight, although James’ father Ian soon learned what he needed to do to keep the costs down, as his young son learned the ropes in what had become very much a “cheque-book” class, even at Club level. Progress was steady and in real terms, the young Gornall’s early racing education came relatively cheaply.

“In Cadets I had one engine, an old ‘Rocket,’ which came with the Wright kart from Tim (Parrott). I moved into Junior TKM at the beginning of 1996 and we bought another second hand Wright frame direct from Simon Wright (SWRD), with one brand new engine, which my dad prepared. Dad has always prepared my engines, carbs etc... But then in 1999 Simon gave us ‘works’ support by way of a second chassis, and he also began to fine-tune my engines. By that stage we even had two TKM engines! I have always been on Wright Karts throughout my karting career to date. So when I moved to Formula ICA (in 2002) we remained on Wright Karts, with SWRD tuned Parilla engines.”


In my TKM British Championship winning Wright Braga.
(Photo: Chris Walker)

In recent years Karting has moved onwards and inevitably with it the costs have continued to rise. Many successful competitors now, especially at Championship level, usually race with “a team” and genuine privateers are rare. Gornall remained one of the exceptions to the rule. “We are what I suppose you would call pure privateers, with a little help from our friends. My Dad has always paid for my racing, and he also acts as my engineer, mechanic and coach. My mum Sandra, and sister Gemma are the other members of our ‘team’ and never miss a race, always being on hand for morale support and cups of tea for Dad, as well as inquisitive reporters!” 

Loyal to the Wright marque throughout, factory support was inevitable in some ways, since Championship material should by right attract the right advice and backing. James was no exception to this. “We have had equipment support from Simon Wright for the last four years,” he said recently, “which has helped a lot. We were also given £1,300 in 1999 by Lloyds TSB General insurance. 

During the last two years we have had some further support from ‘Cool Blue’ mineral water and ‘I Signs (Peterborough)’. Last year and for 2002, we also received some additional support from Bond Street Saab of Leicester. ‘Living Well Health Centres’ in Werrington, have also provided me with complimentary membership, which is quite a saving for me. The facilities are fantastic there. We have never been able to spend anywhere near the amounts of money that other people have, but we try the best we can with the little money we have available.” 


In my Wright ICA equipment for 2002 (Photo: Chris Walker)

Motor racing has a certain appeal to it and young kids, when given the opportunity to race, will usually grab at the chance. Usually the ‘push’ comes from the parents, generally the father, who may have dabbled in the past, and has hopes that their offspring can follow in their footsteps. Again the Gornall past does not follow the normal pattern, with James being the first in the family line to get behind the wheel.

“I’ve always been interested in all types of motorsport, whether it’s two wheels or four. It was most likely inherited from my dad’s interest, although he has never actually raced before, apart from the shopping trolley round at Sainsburys! So when the indoor track opened in Peterborough, it seemed like a logical step for me to take.” 

Turning to ambitions, and with the BARC Formula Renault Championship his obvious target for 2003, the other early ambition had been to “win the British championship, and the PFI club championship. To me, second is the first loser. I’m sure people have seen me and my dad looking unsatisfied with high place finishes which are not wins.” 

In karting terms though, “Racing in Europe would be the best thing that has ever happened to me. As much as I enjoy racing in Britain, I realise that Europe is ‘where it’s all at’ and it would be a dream come true to race on the European scene. We took part in the Formula ICA European qualifiers at Bombarral in Portugal in July 2002, and I was confident I could qualify for the finals at Angerville in France. However, as expected, it really all turned on our financial circumstances, which were a little thin. Although I have always seen the need for fitness training, I actually stepped this up since the back end of 2001, in order to be competitive in the Formula ICA class and to help towards my preparations for Europe. Thankfully I already held an International B racing licence.”

“My most satisfying win,” he recalled, however, “was of course, the 2001 TKM British Championship. If I had to choose a win that I had on the track, it would have to be the first round of the British Championship in 2001 at PF International. It was my first ever win at this level and I had many friends and relatives watching to cheer me on.”


Dad and me at Rissington 2001. Very wet, very cold and very happy. I'd just won the Championship. (Photo: Mum)

Had the Formula Renault opportunity not come his way at the end of the 2002 season, the teenage ace, “Would have loved to race in Europe in Formula A. Super A would be a natural progression from this. However, I want, like most other drivers, to race in Formula 1. With the right breaks and an ‘understanding’ sponsor I believe that I can do it. I see Formula Renault as a good first stepping stone to Formula 1 and would love to compete in the class.” And if that opening race debut at Silverstone, where he set a new class lap record in his fight for a podium position was anything to go by, Gornall is heading in the right direction. 


“When I’m on the track, it doesn’t matter if I’m best mates with the person in front, or arch enemies (figure of speech). As far as I’m concerned, if the move is there then it is still on and nobody gets any special treatment. It’s a hard game out there and I feel you have to have the attitude to go with it, but still remain fair.” Gornall fights hard, but does so with a high degree of sensibility, which means he is not prone to making rash decisions on the track. Working to a tight budget over the years helped with this discipline and it should serve him well in the single-seater arena, where crash repairs can become horrendously expensive.”

James Gornall, 18-years of age, ex-British National karting champion, and also the new 2003 BARC Formula Renault Champion?