No imitation: Aston Martin F1 ambassador Jessica Hawkins takes on NASCAR

Simulation has become an important part of modern racing. Drivers from many series and racing disciplines have used digital tracks and cars to familiarize themselves with tracks they have never raced on, or cars they have never tracked. As an added bonus, they don’t have to put actual miles on the car or spend money to keep it running. This approach to testing and racing has created dozens of opportunities for drivers who wouldn’t have been given the chance a decade or two ago – like Jane Mardenborough’s real-life story of becoming a sim driver-racer brought to the screen in a blockbuster film. , “Gran Turismo.”

It’s thanks to simulators that drivers like Aston Martin F1 ambassador Jessica Hawkins are able to get that next drive. For Hawkins, it was being a driver’s brand ambassador for the British GT Championship, and most recently, amazing track time with Hendrick Motorsports in a NASCAR Cup car at Charlotte Speedway.

Exploits from small seats to big screen

Hawkins is by no means a novice driver. He started his racing career as a karting champion in his youth. But as is often the case for anyone in motorsport, lack of funds meant that his racing aspirations had to be put aside to work and raise funds for his next adventure. Although she was able to move around, her skills earned her a position as a stunt driver in the Fast & Furious live arena show.

Racing was almost a thing of the past until she arrived in the inaugural season of the W Series in 2019, and got the opportunity to race single-seaters competitively. Although he didn’t give up his stunt work – She was jumping Land Rovers in the 2021 James Bond film “No Time to Die” Between his stints traveling for the W Series.

Soon after, the Aston Martin F1 Team invited Hawkins to join as an ambassador – giving him insider knowledge of the Formula 1 team’s operations. Here she can use her experiences to share the brand and the sport with a wider audience. Hawkins went to work immediately. When she’s not in front of the camera, she’s learning about the cars and tracks where Aston Martin competes on the F1 circuit.

In 2023, The leadership of Aston Martin F1 provided Hawkins with the opportunity to explore testing an existing Formula 1 car. Spending significant time with their simulation team, he proved that he was worthy of driving their AMR21. His skills at the sim wheel have earned him a ride in the 2024 British GT Championship. And the opportunities kept coming.

That’s how he found himself behind the wheel of a former NASCAR Cup car at Charlotte Motor Speedway, trained by reigning NASCAR Cup champion, legend Jeff Gordon.

track time

A year after Hawkins’s F1 sim test she was scheduled to be part of the Aston Martin F1 group visiting Hendrick Motorsports at the Charlotte Roval. The stop, made in collaboration with Valvoline, was during the team’s trip to COTA for the Austin F1 race. It was Valvoline who offered Hawkins a ride in a NASCAR Cup car as part of the trip. The strict testing regulations and short time frame for the event meant that Hendrick had to use one of his older cars. That, and Hawkins will need simulator time to make sure he can handle the car safely on the track.

Hendrick Motorsports engineers put Hawkins on their stationary simulator early in the morning after a NASCAR Cup race. And she was not alone. Gordon was also in the static simulator, re-familiarizing himself with the car. It only took a few hours for everyone to feel like it was comfortable enough to go out on the road and take a real NASCAR Cup car to the track.

“Luckily we were both able to go into the simulator, which I think will help a lot with learning the track, but mainly the car,” Gordon shared. “It’s a completely different car, 4-speed H-pattern transmission – the car is big and heavy but there’s a lot of power and not a lot of downforce. It’s going to be very different.”

Gordon also recalled his experience of stepping out of the box of NASCAR driving to test the Williams Formula 1 car at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, swapping rides with Juan Pablo Montoya.

“I drove an F1 car many years ago and one thing that immediately stood out to me with an F1 car is that when the car has the grip it tells you in the steering wheel, it immediately gives you that ‘oh yes’ Gives the feeling that one is trapped. These (NASCAR Cup cars) you never know if you’re stuck or not and so you just have to drive almost like you’re drifting it constantly.

This helped him connect to the technical challenges and sensations that Hawkins would feel when stepping into a Cup car.

“It’s been a tough learning curve but I think it was important for him to get there.”

Once the car was driven into the pit lane and the tires were set, Gordon climbed into the driver’s seat with Hawkins sitting in the passenger seat for his initial track time. Gordon’s objective was to get Hawkins used to the layout and how the shifting and braking markers would look. Then, it was Hawkins’ turn.

Fastening their belts, the two hit the track for a few warm-up laps.

In no time he started moving the car forward, taking rapid turns. You could hear Hawkins yelling in excitement over the radio. Eventually, track time ended and he was called back to the pit lane. And like any passionate NASCAR driver, Hawkins wasn’t shy about asking if she could do a burnout. Gordon immediately approved it on the radio. In his triumphant manner, like a race winner, he ended his session with donuts in the pit lane.

Hawkins, in full spirits, happily shared his experience from actually sitting in the car on the Hendrick simulator, saying, “I thought it was very similar, it helped me a lot especially knowing the braking zones and Knowing which gear to be in and knowing which direction the circuit went.” Looking at Gordon one can imagine how she must have felt before jumping behind the wheel, but the second pedal was just as helpful, as well as a source of much entertainment.

“Obviously it was an adjustment but I enjoyed it a lot.”

Her one-off NASCAR season was over, but it might not be the last time she finds herself behind the wheel of an American-series car. At least, that’s one of his goals. Right now, he is looking for a seat for 2025. Still, this particular track day opened his eyes to NASCAR and even sports cars. And as his resume and simulation experience progresses, he may need to attend another SIM session.