Jayden Debuts in Tasmania
Jayden enjoyed a solid category debut in the 2018 CAMS Australian Formula 4 Championship at Tasmania on the 6th – 8th April.
In one of the closest pole positions margins in the history of the CAMS Jayco Australian Formula 4 Championship, it was an intense 20-minute battle between the AGI Sport duo of Jayden Ojeda and Ryan Suhle, and BRM’s Cameron Shields to qualify on Saturday morning.
Shields secured pole position on his final run by just 0.0215 seconds to set a 0:55.5731. The time shatters Will Brown’s 2016 pole time of 0:56.3471. Jayden shared time at the top of the timesheets for some of the session, but was pleased to still secure a strong 3rd position qualifying result in his first Formula 4 weekend.
“It definitely was very close out there. So to get third, we’re pretty happy with that, so we’ll try and build on that and then maybe one or two spots forward during the races,” Ojeda said. “To get third my first qualifying result, we’re pretty happy so can’t ask for much more really.”
In the opening race on Saturday afternoon Jayden lost out at the start, but he recovered and enjoyed a healthy battle for the final podium placing, hanging on to a solid 4th place finish.
“I made a mess at the start so I fell back a few positions, but I had a good battle with both Lochie and Aaron coming back through the pack which was good,” Ojeda said. “And I got very close into the hairpin, but luckily neither for us came away with any damage. So all smiles, everyone’s really happy, we’ll see how we go for Race Two.”
In race 2, the reverse grid race, Jayden started from the front row and got a great start, leading the race into lap 3. Jayden had an early battle with teammate Ryan Suhle but unfortunately for Jayden electrical issues put a premature end to the AGI Sport driver’s race on lap three.
Team AGI Sport worked incredibly hard to repair Jayden’s car after race 2. Jayden started from P4 in the last race and had a great fight to eventually end up a strong third place, and his first race podium finish in Formula 4.
Even with the disappointment of the non finish in race 2 Jayden still finished fifth overall for the round.
The CAMS Jayco Australian Formula 4 Championship will next visit Phillip Island, supporting the Shannons Nationals, on 1–3 June.
