Jabez races to national success – twice
A young driver with racing in his blood has been crowned a national champion – twice.
Jabez Smith has won both the British Autograss Series and the Autograss National Championships for class 5 this year – racing a seriously souped-up classic Mini.
The 22-year-old is no stranger to trophies – this is the third time in a row he has won the British Autograss Series, which is held over five rounds across the year.
But it is the first time he has won the National – a one-off day of races that he described as the Grand National of Autograss.
The victory was something Jabez had aimed for all his life and a special achievement as it was something his parents Joey and Irene – also racing drivers – had never done. He said: "Mum and Dad have been racing since the 1960s, so it's always been in the family."
He said his brother Albie, 33, and sister Shelley Tipton, 38, were also racers, but all in different classes.
"I've been racing since I was 14," said Jabez. "I was in the juniors and I came up through the ranks to senior level."
Jabez, from Overton near Ludlow, races in a 1420cc Vauxhall-powered Mini.
He said this year he had been sponsored by Britpart in Craven Arms, where he works as a van driver, and couldn't have done it without the firm's help.
