Alan Jones

Taking on the world with an iron will and passion, Alan Jones became a Formula One force with his sheer determination to succeed. Born to an affluent car dealer, Alan's father Stan Jones was himself one of Australia's top racers, who received the opportunity to try out in Europe, which he refused to stay with his family. Alan Jones was inspired by his father's success and was further encouraged by him to try his hand at the sport. Preparing for the Formula One right from an early age, Jones became a kart racing champion at the age of 15 and soon proved his mettle with a Mini as well as one of his father's Coopers. Before his dreams could go any further, they hit a roadblock when Stan Jones went bankrupt in an Australian economic recession. Alan, realizing that any future in motorsport would require him to try his luck abroad, managed to put together enough money to finance an Australian tour of England and Europe.

Arriving in London in 1970, with just 50 pounds in his pocket, Alan started to settle in by selling well used minivans to fellow Antipodean travelers. His girlfriend Bev joined him in London and they soon rented a boarding house, and started hiring out rooms. Whatever meager profits they made out of the business, Alan used to finance his racing. Stan Jones, now divorced moved in with his son to provide him moral support, which was much needed. Alan's progress was excruciatingly slow, with him making no headway in his battered old Formula Ford. He further crashed in a Formula Three Lotus and Brands Hatch and fractured his leg.

A lucky break finally came along when Alan was offered a sponsored F3 ride in a GRD. Alan made the most of the opportunity and scored his first win at Silverstone in 1973. Unfortunately the win was marred by the death of his father, Stan Jones who had suffered a massive heart attack. Despite the loss, the distraught Australian managed to finish second in the 1973 British F3 championship.

With a good performance in the Formula Atlantic, Alan was offered a chance by a private entrant to drive in the Formula One in a Hesketh, for the 1975 season. Making the most of the opportunity offered to him, Alan finished the season with Graham Hill's team, and scored a fifth position at the Nurburgring, which resulted in John Surtees employing him for the 1976 season. This alliance however did not work out, and Alan's Formula One career came to a halt.

A tragedy helped put things in motion for Alan, when in 1977, Tom Pryce was in killed in a Shadow during the South African Grand Prix, and the team decided to hire Alan to replace him. It was only later in the season that a willful drive in wet/dry conditions that Alan and Shadow experienced their maiden win. Even though the team never saw a win again, Alan managed an offer from Ferrari for the 1978 season. Ferrari reneged and decided to go with Gilles Villeneuve instead. Alan then visited Williams Grand Prix Engineering, which due to a severe shortage of funds was going through a stagnant phase.

'AJ' as the Williams team called was soon accepted and the admiration was mutual as Alan was equally impressed with Frank William's ambition and also by Patrick Head's neat Williams FW06 car. AJ soon began showing results, winning four races and finishing an impressive third in the 1979 season.

1980 was AJ's season with wins in France, Canada, Britain, USA and Argentina, making the Williams FW07B and AJ an unbeatable combination. Alan Jones became the 1980 World Champion and the ecstatic team boss titled AJ the prototypical Williams driver.

AJ was a man's man and he was great fun to be with", Frank Williams said about his star driver. Admiring the fact that AJ did not require any mental propping up or any hand holding, Frank Williams was impressed with his determination. AJ wore his red underpants for good luck and the brave and blunt Aussie won many races, mostly by forceful fighting. Patrick Head admired the competitive almost animal streak in AJ, and mentioned that he once finished second in a race, despite driving with a broken hand. Alain Prost, only a rookie during AJ's championship season, termed Jones as the "most fiery, powerful, even violent driver".

Opinionated as always, AJ described himself as an obnoxious little man, during his childhood and trails of this characteristic remained even in adulthood. His politically incorrect statements, such as one, where he called the French "frogs", or when he vehemently opposed the women's liberation movement, further showcased his rough edges.

His reigning season was inflicted by many mechanical problems, and even though he grabbed two wins and also finished third at the end of the season, AJ retired and returned to Australia to become a farmer.

The racer in his blood soon resurfaced when he was given an opportunity of a one-off ride with Arrows in the 1983 US Grand Prix West. But his injury from falling off a horse, coupled with being out of shape, which he attributed to "too many barbies and Fosters Lager", his performance was not consequential. AJ got another opportunity for a comeback and accepted a big money offer from a new Beatrice Formula One entry, but the team tapered off and eventually disappeared completely.

Down Under, AJ raced saloon cars and focused on his son Christian's racing career and even worked as a TV commentator for Formula One, a sport he once excelled at.