Young gun Lacey ready to chase F1 dream

At the tender age of 16, Jesse Lacey is packing his bags and jetting off to America to chase the F1 dream.

Lacey, who idolises Lewis Hamilton, will be racing in the competitive F4 United States Championship in 2023, held across six rounds starting at Nola in March and finishing at Circuit of the Americas alongside the US Grand Prix in November.

Armed with the team which won the 2022 USF4 teams championship, Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport, the determined teenager only has one goal in mind – winning.

“I am there to win,” Lacey told AUTO ACTION.

“It is going to be exciting, probably the biggest season I have ever had.”

Jesse Lacey will be racing the USF4 Championship with Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport in 2023. Image: Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport

Lacey has his sights set on Formula 1, and has chosen America as his first stepping stone overseas rather than the traditional European pathway.

Lacey said the plan is to make an impression in the competitive and slightly cheaper scene in the states before moving to the global FIA Formula 3 world championship.

“It is the land of opportunities and the prize of winning the championship is really good. It also  opens other pathways such as Indycar and NASCAR, but the dream is to go to F1,” he said.

“But if that does not work out, then hopefully, I can look at other options.”

Jesse Lacey behind the wheel of an AGI Formula 4 car. Image: Supplied

The chance to race for Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport came about through Lacey’s connection with the AGI Academy, who after a year’s work helped arrange a test with the team where the Aussie would face off with eight other hopefuls in Texas.

But it was Lacey, who “knocked it out of the park” and was offered the coveted drive.

“I just tried my best and focused on what I had to do,” he said.

“I did not let anyone else get in the way and obviously it worked.”

The impression the Victorian made on the team is still noticeable, with Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport team owner Gary Orton believing the youngster has what it takes to be an F4 US champion.

“Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport is excited to have Jesse join our program for 2023,” he said.

“After two days of testing in Texas in unfavourable weather conditions, Jesse showed amazing pace.

“I am positive that Jesse will be a championship contender.

“Our plan is for Jesse to become the third Australian to win the F4 US Championship.”

Lacey was destined to be a racer as a third generation driver with his uncle national sprintcar champion Brett Lacey, his grandfather Victorian sprintcar champion Ray “Nippa” Lacey and father Kris Lacey also a speedway driver.

But unlike his relatives, road racing stole Jesse’s heart as soon as he drove on tarmac and there was no turning back.

His karting career started at the age of nine and he quickly developed into a winning machine, collecting the Victorian Cadet 9 Karter of the year award.

It was his first of 24 major titles, with the highlight his first overseas race in 2019 where he was the fastest of 150 global drivers at the mini Rok World Cup, putting it on pole, before winning the prestigious Sahi Trophy.

Jesse Lacey rides the kerb in an AKC race in 2021. Image: Supplied

All up across 115 races, Lacey stepped on the podium 85 times, giving him an impressive 75% strike rate.

The youngster soon found himself at the beating heart of the prancing horse in 2021, being the youngest and least experienced finalist in the Ferrari Driver Academy.

Although Lacey was not the overall winner, he showed plenty of promise and pinpoints the experience at Maranello as one of the biggest lessons in his short career so far.

“It was a five day camp and the first three days were physical and mental, going through what happens in a car, then the last few days we drove around the Fiorano track, which was awesome,” he said.

“I gained so much knowledge and got better as a driver coming out of it.

“The biggest thing was seeing what actually goes on inside of a Ferrari Formula 1 team. It’s incredible.”

Jesse Lacey suited up at Maranello during the Ferrari Driver Academy final. Image: Supplied

“The others had 20-30 days of F4 experience and Jesse had zero. We had a magnificent time and so glad it happened, but we realised afterwards that if he is going to compete with these guys, he needs to get prepared,” Kris Lacey added.

“He was not fit and strong enough, so to his credit he dedicated himself to go to the gym five to six days a week.

“This year (2022) has been a development year training at the gym, mentally with Dr Nole, on the track with Adam Gotch and  AGI Academy and sim training has really brought him a long way.”

Jesse Lacey puts the foot down out of Siberia in a Formula 4 car. Image: Supplied

Part of this program has been gaining more mileage in a Formula 4 car with tests at Wakefield Park, Phillip Island and Sydney Motorsport Park, while he has a handful of races and Formula 4 Race Car Association wins under his belt with AGI Sport, which helped setup the opportunity to chase the US F4 route.

Lacey and his father will make the move across the Pacific Ocean in February before getting stuck into a vigorous on-track program.

He will complete four test sessions at Cresson Motorsports Park late in February before the opening round in March. This is part of a year-long testing program, while in the middle of all the driving he will submit his school work online.

Racing with the same number used by his grandfather, #16, Lacey is ready for the ride of a lifetime, chasing his dream in the states.

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