Jazzed up for Jaz

Jazeman Jaafar. That intense look of his is what first caught my
attention all those years ago.

It's hard to believe that he's still only 21. After all, time being what it is, it always seems like only yesterday that I first caught a glimpse of that almost 14-year old who was making waves in the Formula BMW Asia series in 2007. I recall meeting this intense, disciplined and single-minded teenager back then and being somewhat in between awe and amazement. I even recall being at the listening end of a very one-sided conversation with a certain high-ranked individual at BMW about how the talent of this young lad ought to be nurtured. "He has the right aptitude, the talent, the perseverance and most importantly, the discipline for it," this man said.

At 14, discipline was at best an untamed concept to me, something one experiences when one has pushed the extremes of breaking the rules too far and getting punished for it. Self discipline? What's that??! Looking back, perhaps I did have some measure of that, especially as I was only ever really good at getting myself into copious amounts of trouble. 

Anyway, I got to know a little bit more about Jazeman Jaafar (or Jaz, as I affectionately call him) and had the pleasure of watching him grow through the ranks of single-seater open-wheel racing. This was during the same time that I had the pleasure of working with another very young formel eins hopeful - who eventually went on to become the youngest driver to drive at a Grand Prix race and become a four-time world champion. This particular individual also went through the same junior formula Jaz had began his career in. 

Like Seb, there were others that also went through the same category like Daniel Ricciardo (who I met briefly when he was with Eurasia racing competing in the 2006 Formula BMW Asia series) and Alexander Rossi (now a GP2 driver and reserve F1 driver). I came to really appreciate their work ethic, which is so far off the public perception and stigma that comes from being a race car driver. 

Jazeman celebrates a podium finish in this year's Formula Renault
3.5 World Series

As for Jaz, he hasn't been exempt from the pressures that these other drivers have had to go through as well. From what little we can ascertain from the mainstream media, it's been a "tough" year for the youngster. He eventually finished the season in 10th overall out of 23 drivers (in 2013, he finished 17th). 

At face value (and I mean at face value, disclaimers and all), like almost everything reported in sports, you can't help but read between the lines that not getting a win or a medal is somewhat tantamount to some kind of failure. I really beg to differ, and perhaps this is a subject best relegated to a more explosive post.. haha..!! Anyway, I think despite him not walking away with the Formula Renault 3.5 World Series title this year, Jazeman still made tremendous strides this season. 

In trying to get a back story to the work that Jaz has been doing this year, I got the opportunity to catch up with the young lad (that's hard to catch up with an extraordinarily fit individual, hahaha!!) to look back at what has been - to me, and for all intents and purposes - a good season for Jazeman..

Q: Jazeman, it's been an absorbing and interesting 2014 season for you. Let's start with talking about your time in the 2014 Formula Renault 3.5 World Series.

JJ: "Well, coming to the second year, it has been quite an interesting journey. I came home with a couple of podiums. But it's been a very competitive year, full of highs and lows. But I am happy that I was able to fight back up front for most of the year."


A Portuguese date with Formel Eins

Q: But, 2014 hasn't just been about the World Series for you either! For instance you tested the Mercedes AMG PETRONAS Formula One car in Portimao (Portugal) a few months back. That's awesome! How was it for you?

Jazeman testing the 2012 Mercedes AMG F1-W03 in Portimao

JJ: "It was fantastic because it was also more than just a test. It was an unlimited testing with a two year old car that Michael [Schumacher] used to drive [that would be the Mercedes AMG F1-W03]. It was a fantastic opportunity to be given because I was given a full test team to work with and a full package to learn from. So it was definitely a great step for my career."



Q: Not only that, it was also the fourth time you tested a formula one car with the Mercedes AMG PETRONAS Formula One team as well. How was this experience different from the other times you've driven an F1 car at events, filming, etcetera? 

JJ: "It was different this time. And definitely a step forward, because every time you drive the car you learn something new. You know Formula One is something you can't just jump in a master everything at once. Each time I get to drive the car, I improve myself, my understanding of the car characteristics. Although it was a 2-year old car, it is still a Formula One car, for me it is an incredible car to be learning in, especially."



Q: Did that experience help improve your racing season in the World Series?

JJ: "Definitely. I mean from getting grips with the technical knowledge, especially when you get the chance to work with a top team like Mercedes AMG PETRONAS, there's nothing more you can ask for."



Q: You know this year, everyone talked about how different the cars are. How different do you think it is driving this 2 year old car compared to the 2014 cars, from a drivers point of view?

JJ: "I think based on the simulators I have been driving, the 2014 cars actually have a lot less downforce and the tyres are harder. I wouldn't say it is a lot easier, but there are a lot of other factors to master with the 2014 cars. I haven't had the opportunity to drive the actual 2014 car, but I think it would be an interesting challenge to jump into one of those."


The Club of Clubs, for race car drivers

Jazeman with his ISR team in this season's World Series by Renault

Q: As a whole, you've had a busy 2014. But I think one accomplishment deserves a mention, and that is you being inducted into the BRDC (British Racing Drivers Club), an elite club that's open to racing car drivers who have attained international success over a number of seasons. Wow! How does it feel to be amongst some of the world's best? 

JJ: "It feels fantastic. It was definitely one of my happiest moments this year. BRDC is a very exclusive clubs with about 300-400 race car drivers, and being only the 3rd Malaysian in it as well as the youngest Malaysian, it is amazing to be a part of that. Of course, I have to thank Alex Yoong and Fairuz Fauzy for nominating me to be a part of BRDC. Being in the BRDC gives me the opportunity to meet and network with new people. The recognition I get as a Malaysian driver to be a part of BRDC is truly incredible."


24 Hour Madness

Jazeman in action with the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 at the 24-Hours of Spa race. 

Q: And, as if you didn't already have a very busy 2014, you also did the 24 hours of Spa. 

JJ: "It never stops, right?!! But I really enjoyed it! The opportunity came about from Mercedes AMG, when I did the test in spa, right after my race earlier this year. The test went really well. At the same time, I also had a summer break and they asked me if I wanted to do the race. I said yeah, I was more than happy to do it as I have never done a 24-hour race and the [Mercedes-Benz] SLS [AMG GT3] is a fantastic car to drive. So I really couldn't say no."

"As for the race itself. I only had about 2 hours of sleep in 30 hours. And I only ate loads of protein bars and granola bars and I couldn't have a proper meal, or else I would've fallen asleep! 

"It was a fantastic experience and I have to thank PETRONAS and Mercedes AMG for giving me the opportunity."


Q: As you said, it was your first 24hour race, and you finished 5th! I mean, 24 hour races if you compare it to the likes of Le Mans, is a very very difficult kind of race. It's taxing on the driver, taxing technically. So, how do you as a driver overcome all these challenges?

JJ: "First thing, I have to say I had great experienced teammates [Maximilian Buhk, Maximilian Götz] so they knew what to expect as they had won the year before. That helped me a lot, especially from the technical point of view. 

"The hardest thing I found was mentally. Because I did a couple of double stints and the ones at night were especially challenging. So, it was just about keeping the consistency going. But I had a great team [HTP Motorsport] behind me, they kept my focus going and everyone was in such a great mood which really helps the drivers."

Night sessions in endurance racing are really crazy hard.. and that's
just for me, writing the hourly reports. Try driving the car!! 

Q: Well, some F1 drivers have ventured to do the 24hours of LeMans in the past. Is that something that's on your radar in the future? 

JJ: "If the opportunity comes up again next year, why not!! But my main goal remains Formula One, and I wouldn't want to be distracted at this point in my career."


Q: I know it's early days still, but what's in store for Jazeman Jaafar in 2015?

JJ: "Although it's already at the end of the season, as of now, we are planning to do the off-season testing in the World Series, as well as the GP2 test, so we'll definitely have to see where that takes us, and we'll see where the opportunity takes us. Ultimately it does all boils down to my sponsors really."

At the time of this post, Jazeman had just concluded a World Series by Renault testing with his DAMS team at the Motorland Aragon circuit. The Malaysian closed out the session with the third fastest time. He was quoted as saying that he does not know where he would be in 2015. 

Sure, there are so many different factors at play being a race car driver. In fact, it's a lot similar to what any other professional athletes go through. Performance and consistency in that performance being amongst them; hard work, dedication, discipline, perseverance and tenacity being other factors; as is luck, probably. Then there's timing, exposure and results, to some extent. It isn't fair nor would it be accurate to simply say that Jaz had a bad year. By who's reckoning? 

If it came down to the crunch, I would probably have to say that he had a positive and strong formative season. And isn't that what being an athlete is all about? Having a season filled with learning opportunities that had and may continue to have a profound influence on an athletes development.

I took this of Jazeman back in 2008. Gosh!! Good Luck Jaz. 

We don't yet know where Jazeman will end up in 2015, but if he keeps on the path he's on, the world remains his oyster. As Winston Churchill once said, "Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts." 

Let's all have a little faith in him and the other Malaysian athletes who work so damned hard at their craft. Celebrate and be proud of their achievements thus far, and know that they've all overcome incredible obstacles just to get to where they are. 

And as famed former Detroit Red Wings right-wing and one of the best ice hockey players in the world, Gordie Howe once said, “You find that you have peace of mind and can enjoy yourself, get more sleep, and rest when you know that it was a one hundred percent effort that you gave – win or lose.” I for one know and am sure that Jaz and all our other athletes give it 100%, everytime.

Go get 'em tiger!




@ Credit to Jazeman's PR team for the bulk of the pictures used in this post.