Ten Minutes with.....

1986 works Duckhams Van Diemen driver and Esso Champion, Jason Elliott

HoFF1600 - What was your racing background before you raced in FF1600?

JE - I raced Motocross up to the age of 10 followed by Karting from 11 to 15 years of age.

HoFF1600 - You showed promise in the Van Diemen RF83 in 1984, did that give you the confidence to step up to a full attack on the 85 Junior series?

Yes, i started testing the RF83 when i was 16 mainly at Donington and Mallory, i then did about 6 races at the back end of 1984 after my 17th birthday, it went quite well so i decided to to do both Junior Championships in 1985.

HoFF1600 - What are your memories of 1985?

I had a good year racing against against some top drivers like Phil Andrews, Adrian Willmott, Steve Robertson and Gary Ayles, we all had a chance of winning the championship that year. (Jason won both Junior championships in 1985 - Ed)

HoFF1600 - Did you have other options or was the works Van Diemen drive the aim all along for 1986?

The works drive was on the cards after Ralph Firman approached us in July of 1985 at Oulton Park and said that he wanted me for 1986, i more or less said yes straightaway but i still went to see Rick Gorne at Reynard before i signed but i felt Van Diemen was the way to go working with Puddy ( Van Diemen's ace engineer - Ed)

HoFF1600 - Who were your biggest rivals in FF1600?

There were so many i think, as well as those i mentioned earlier there was people like Roland Ratzenberger, Philippe Favre and John Village etc.

HoFF1600 - Who would you rate as the best driver you've raced against?

JJ Lehto

HoFF1600 - What memories do you have of the Festival?

No good memories! The worst was in 86 when my throttle cable broke on the first lap of my heat when i was leading. I think i could have mixed it with Ratzenberger and Favre in the Final if i made it that far...

HoFF1600 - How fierce was the constructor rivalry with Reynard, Quest, Mondiale etc?

I didn't really get involved with the rivalry, i just got on with my own thing.

HoFF1600 - Would you consider a racing comeback in something like the Walter Hayes Trophy just for fun?

I spoke with John Village a while back about getting my old RF83 up and running to do the WHT we will wait and see?

HoFF1600 - What are you up to these days?

I'm running the family car business in Chesterfield with my brother.

My thanks go to Jason for his speedy response to my emails, he was a class act in 1600 back in the 80's and if he could get the RF83 out for a rip at the WHT, i'm sure he'd be competitive....