Moving On Up: Jorge Cevallos Saad

Paddock magazine moves on up with a progressive Mexican driver Jorge Cevallos Saad. Look out for this one, Formula 1! 

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What was your very first experience of motorsports racing?

I’ve been a fan of racing ever since I was very young because my dad was a regular competitor in the prestigious Baja 1000 race, one of the most historic races in Off-Road in Baja California, México, and other Off-Road events in the early ’90s, so I grew up looking at his pictures. My first real experience was in 2007 when I finally convinced my parents to buy me a go-kart for my birthday and the first thing I wanted to do was sign up for a race. My first time ever sitting in a kart was at a regional race in California, it was a big eye-opener, but I went on to finish 3^rd in the juniors category that year!

How did you finance your early years?

The financial part of the sport is something really difficult, especially for a 12-year-old boy who at the time doesn’t really understand why he can’t do the next race. I had to work very hard to bring together a group of family and friends to help me financially to get started in my early karting career. My best formula to get sponsorships has been working hard every day of the year in it, with enthusiasm and consistency, preparing mentally, physically and showing my results on the track. Finally, after some good results, I could enter the radar of Escuderia Telmex and other companies interested in supporting my racing career in Europe.

One of the biggest challenges for every driver is to attract sponsorship. What is your recipe for success?

This is the million-dollar (or pound) question! Every driver has to find a “recipe” which works for their specific program. For me, it’s something that I have built throughout the last 10 years, and I am supported by companies and people who trust my talent. Keeping these relationships strong, and obviously along with good results, has been my secret to success.

How do you deal with the competition on the track?

For me dealing with competition on track is something that starts months before you actually arrive at the track. I am now racing at a level of competition where every driver is fast, but it is the little things that make the difference to finding that last tenth and I try to do everything possible before a race weekend so that when I arrive, I am very confident and can focus on only my driving and improving the car.

What are your career highlights?

My favourite moment in my career would have to be winning my first Formula car race at Donington Park Circuit in Formula Renault UK. It was something that I had worked so hard for, that when I finally crossed the finish line in first, I got a feeling that I would never forget.

Date and place of birth:

San Diego, California, U.S. on June 16, 1994.

Nationality: Mexican.

Team: Fortec Motorsports / Escuderia Telmex / Caliente Casino / Discover Baja California team.

Highlights:

2014, starts in Formula Renault 2.0 NEC Championship.

2013, 3^rd place overall in Protyre Formula Renault UK Championship:

April 14, Donington Park National Circuit, 1^st place podium.

June 1, Thruxton Circuit, 3rd place podium.

July 7, Croft Circuit, 3^rd place podium.

July 7, Croft Circuit, 4th place.

August 11, Rockingham Circuit, 3^rd place podium.

September 29, Silverstone Circuit, 4th place.