Flux-sponsored Rob Sayell leads in his Jedi class after four wins from six starts.
Former champion Grand Prix Midget motor racing driver Rob Sayell of Kings Lynn is celebrating after a flying start in his bid to succeed in a brand new racing category.
The 32-year old professional heating engineer went back to the starting grid earlier this year to try his hand at the new Formula Jedi Championships after dominating the Grand Prix Midget formula for several years.
In the most recent outing, at Brands Hatch on 15-16th August, Rob had class wins on both days and he is now on target to win the Club Class Championship in his first year in Formula Jedi.
In a gesture of support for local sports, Norfolk specialist motor insurance broker Adrian Flux Insurance Services is sponsoring Rob’s Jedi car in its inaugural year, and sponsorship is key to success in this field, says Rob.
"I’m delighted to be supported by Flux. It’s a high profile national company and the name is recognised among enthusiasts at every racetrack. Even better is the local connection to my home town of King’s Lynn.
"But I’m keen to attract support from other East Anglian businesses to share the limelight with Adrian Flux." In fact Rob is now also supported by a local landscaping company, Burrows and Howes.
Adrian Flux’s sponsorship is a natural one for the insurance broker, based at East Winch and a major East Anglian employer. Not only does the company specialise in insuring classic, performance and modified cars throughout the UK, but when it comes to sports sponsorship the company is keen to support rising local talent rather than established stars.
Competing is in the blood for Rob, a driver of Grand Prix Midget cars with a record six World championships, six National points championships, two European championships and many British championships.
But he dropped it all for the irresistible challenge of Formula Jedi, a type of club car racing that uses the long circuits such as Silverstone, Snetterton, and Brands Hatch, instead of the Grand Prix Midget’s smaller, shorter ‘ovals’.
Compact and light, and driven by an R1 1000cc Yamaha Superbike engine, Jedi cars are astonishingly fast and manoeuvrable, reaching top speeds of 150mph. With all the cars in the formula being similarly specified, it’s a real test of driving skill.
To contact Adrian Flux Insurance freephone 0800 081 8989, email the company at quotes@adrianflux.co.uk, or see the Flux homepage on www.adrianflux.co.uk
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Notes for editors:
Formula Jedi:
Formula Jedi originated in 1996 as ‘Formula 600’ as a conventional-looking but light racing car that used a Honda 600 cc motorcycle engine fitted to the rear of the car, and using the Jedi chassis constructed by John Corbyn at his Northamptonshire workshops. The idea for a race championship after the Jedi chassis was being used very successfully on sprint and hill climb circuits throughout the UK. Formula 600 was created to produce identical performance single seater racing cars, providing a more cost effective way to go motor racing on classic circuits. In 2000, Honda UK gave their support to the formula and the series became ‘Formula Honda’.
Formula 600 was recently discontinued in favour of an all-1000cc series with two classes: Championship Class (for engines built post-2003) and Club Class (the one Rob Sayell is competing in) for cars with engines built 2003 or before.
Regulations aim to keep performance close between cars, producing close and exciting ‘gladiatorial’ racing that focuses on the drivers themselves rather than the cars.