Eyes on the prize

Jayden Garner has a bold dream – he wants to drive in Australia’s most famous motor race, the Bathurst 1000.

“I’d love to race in a Ford but would obviously drive whatever car my team gives me,” Jayden said.

The 15-year-old is starting his journey to that goal by embarking on a career as a junior sedan driver on the speedway circuit.

He only has a couple of races under his belt at this stage but he is securing race wins and top 10 finishes overall at events, translating his love of cars to being a quality driver.

“I have always loved cars and been brought up around cars and motor racing,” Jayden said. “I used to race the dirt circuit at Apsley and built my way up to the A Grade level by winning races and being competitive and consistent.”

And like many regionally based car lovers, he has been able to develop his skills off road.

“I have been practising my racing on private properties and I was also fortunate enough to have a drive of my dad’s car at Apsley where he was racing,” Jayden said.

This weekend Jayden will make his Borderline Speedway debut when the junior sedans hit the Glenburnie track for the first time this season.

Jayden has three other meets booked for his local track, with races on the calendar at Portland and Murray Bridge and he will keep an eye out for other opportunities on weekends where he currently has nothing booked.

Jayden attends Millicent High School and is completing a school-based apprenticeship at Stef’s Transport as a mechanic.

The Mt Gambier Times will be profiling the locally based junior sedan driers through the season.