Zeal Jones
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| Zeal Jones (Rally Driver) | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Japanese New Zealand |
| Born | 28th of November 2004 South Auckland, New Zealand |
| Related to | Austen Jones (Father) Kingsley Jones (Uncle) Waverley Jones (Aunty) |
| New Zealand Rally Championship (NZRC) career | |
| Debut season | 2021 |
| Years active | 4 Years |
| Teams | Zeal Jones Racing (2021-2023) Skoda NZ Rally Team (2024) |
| Co-driver | Austen Jones : 2021-2022 Matthew Sayers : 2023 Waverley Jones : 2024 |
| Starts | 16 NZRC Starts |
| Podiums | 1 NZRC Podium 3 Club Rally Podiums |
| Best finish | 3rd Overall : Daybreaker Rally in 2024 |
| Championship titles | |
| 2023 NZRC Rally Challenge AWD Champion 2024 NZRC Junior Champion | |
| Awards | |
| 2023 Bruce Mclaren Trophy 2024 Otago Rally Young Driver Scholarship Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT "WRC Challenge Program" Finalist | |
Zeal Jones is a Japanese-Kiwi rally driver who currently competes in the New Zealand Rally Championship (NZRC).[1] Son of New Zealand rally driver Austen Jones, and nephew of New Zealand rally driver Kingsley Jones, Zeal has excelled in motorsport since a young age.
Jones has won a NZRC 4WD Challenge Championship, Cat 5 NZRC Drivers Championship, and a NZRC Junior Championship.[2] Jones is the youngest driver to ever become a NZRC 4WD Challenge Champion, and is the second youngest competitor to ever finish on a NZRC podium.
Jones is currently competing in Toyota World Rally Team's "WRC Challenge Program" where he made it into the top 6 Japanese drivers.[3] Jones is set to fly to Finland at the end of 2024, putting his skills to the test in an attempt to make it to the top line of rallying, the World Rally Championship with one of the most successful WRC manufactures. This is the program that promoted Takamoto Katsuta into the WRC, with Jones set for the same destiny.
Early Life and Background
Born in New Zealand to Austen Jones and his Japanese wife in late 2004, he grew up in South Auckland, a city with a population of 1.798 million (2024).[4] He is the son of New Zealand Rallying|rally driver Austen Jones, and Nephew to Kingsley Jones, who both have had NZRC campaigns over the years.[5]
Jones started his motorsport career in Karting at the age of 9.[6] Climbing the Junior Categories through local and national championships.[7] It was here that Jone's finesse was often found in the wet weather conditions which announced his driving style for rallying.[6] Jones competed in Karting for 9 years from the age of 9 till the age of 17. The continuous support of his dad Austen and family has seen him go from one step to another.
Jones attended the prestigious Kings College in Ōtāhuhu, Auckland before going into tertiary eduction achieving a BCom in Marketing and Management at the University of Otago, and a BCom in International Business and Management.[8] Jones currently works for Pearce Brothers as he further commits to his Rallying Career.
Motorsport Career
2013-2020 : National Karting Campaigns
From the age of 9 Jones has competed in national karting events, honing his craft. Wet weather driving has been credited as one of the many reasons for Zeal's quick driving abilities.[6]
From 2015-2017 Jone's competed in the Vortex Mini Rok Series.[7]
From 2018-2020 Jone's competed in the Vortex Max Junior Series.[7]
2021-Present : The Step Into Rallying
Jone's start in rallying almost did not happen. He had done a test in a Formula Ford, a road that many successful racing drivers have gone down to reach the top, and the test went really well. But for him it was obvious to pick the rallying path with all the family history and support from the sport. Plus he felt although his aggressive driving style fits better in a rally car then it does a race car. [6]
2024 Season : Battling With The Big Boys + WRC Opportunity
2024 saw Jone's step up into the top-line of New Zealand rallying, leasing his uncles Skoda Fabia R5 rally car. This gave Jone's the opportunity to make an impact at the top of his sport and battle it out with New Zealands fastest drivers including Hayden Paddon, Ben Hunt, Emma Gilmour, and Robbie Stokes.[9] With the support of his sponsors Zeal campaigned the Skoda Fabia R5 for the 2024 NZRC season.
Round one at the International Rally of Otago saw Jones be awarded their Young Driver Scholarship in support to campaign himself to the top.[10] Otago saw Zeal battle gremlins, driving day two in FWD, walking away with a top 5 finish nevertheless. Jones finished with a 4th place at round two of the NZRC in South Canterbury.[11] The last south island event in Southland saw Jones in 6th after a tough rally for all. Round four would see a important moment in Jone's career with a first ever NZRC podium at the Daybreaker Rally[12], becoming the second youngest NZRC podium sitter[13]. He followed this up in the Bay of Plenty with 4th place, sitting just off the podium. The last round in Whangarei gave Jones the opportunity to place third in the 2024 NZRC Championship with a close championship battle between Emma Gilmour, Robbie Stokes, and himself throughout the year. Unfortunately SS2 saw Zeal crash off the road and breaking his gearbox taking him out of the picture for 3rd in the championship, but he still managed to finish in the top 5.[11]
Jone's was fortunate to be picked to take part in Toyota World Rally Team's "WRC Challenge Program"[14], being one of the 100 Japanese drivers being picked to compete in a trial around Mount Fuji circuit.[15]Jones strong showing there impressed Toyota's instructors including four-time WRC runner-up Mikko Hirvonen, where Jones was picked as one of 6 who would go to Finland to compete in a final test[16] to see who will be the next generation of Toyota's young drivers along side drivers like Takamoto Katusta and Yuki Yamamoto. [17] Jone's didn't get picked to become one of the next WRC Challenge Program Drivers as he lacked the constancy other competitors showed.[18] However Jones was picked up by 'TOYOTA GAZOO Racing New Zealand'[19], placing him in the 'Finding New Zealand’s Next World Champion Program' for 2025 and beyond.[19]
NZRC Class Victories
| # | Event | Season | Class | Co-Driver | Car |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rally of Whangarei | 2023 | Junior | Rally Challenge | Class 5A | Matthew Sayers | Subaru Impreza WRX |
| 2 | Daybreaker Rally Manawatu | 2023 | Junior | Matthew Sayers | Subaru Impreza WRX |
| 3 | Rally Bay of Plenty | 2023 | Junior | Rally Challenge | Class 5A | Matthew Sayers | Subaru Impreza WRX |
| 4 | Rally South Canterbury | 2024 | Junior | Waverley Jones | Skoda Fabia R5 |
| 5 | Daybreaker Rally | 2024 | Junior | Waverley Jones | Skoda Fabia R5 |
| 6 | Rally Bay of Plenty | 2024 | Junior | Waverley Jones | Skoda Fabia R5 |
National/NZRC Rally Podiums
| # | Event | Season | Place | Co-Driver | Car |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Taupo 2wd Forest Rally | 2022 | 3rd | Austen Jones | Subaru Impreza |
| 2 | Nelson Rally | 2023 | 2nd | Matthew Sayers | Subaru Impreza WRX |
| 3 | Newstead Lodge Rally | 2023 | 3rd | Waverley Jones | Subaru Impreza WRX |
| 4 | Daybreaker Rally (NZRC) | 2024 | 3rd | Waverley Jones | Skoda Fabia R5 |
NZRC Championship Results [11]
| Year | Team | Car | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | DC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Zeal Jones Racing | Subaru Impreza | OTA | WHA
dnf |
SCA | HAW
dnf |
RNZ1
18th |
RNZ2
23rd |
NC | |
| 2023 | Zeal Jones Racing | Subaru Impreza WRX | OTA
dnf |
WHA | SCA
8th |
DAY
8th |
BOP
6th |
NC | ||
| 2024 | Skoda NZ Rally Team | Skoda Fabia R5 | OTA
5th |
SCA
4th |
SOU
6th |
DAY
3rd |
BOP
6th |
WHA
dnf |
5th | 105 |
| Rally Code Key | |
|---|---|
| OTA | International Rally of Otago |
| WHA | Rally of Whangarei |
| SCA | Rally South Canterbury |
| HAW | Rally Hawkes Bay |
| RNZ | Rally New Zealand |
| COR | Rally Coromandel |
| BOP | Rally Bay of Plenty |
| SOU | Southern Lights Rally |
| DAY | Daybreaker Rally |
References
- ↑ Shacki. "Entry list Rally of Otago 2024". eWRC-results.com. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
- ↑ Sampson, Matthew (2024-09-20). "Zeal Jones shortlisted for prestigious Toyota WRC Challenge Program". VelocityNews. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
- ↑ "Zeal Jones to get major Toyota WRC opportunity | :: Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship ::". Retrieved 2024-11-11.
- ↑ "Regional Economic Profile | Auckland | Population growth". rep.infometrics.co.nz. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
- ↑ Shacki. "Austen Jones - rally profile eWRC-results.com". eWRC-results.com. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 "About". Zeal Jones Racing. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 "Driver: Zeal Jones | Driver Database". www.driverdb.com. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
- ↑ Jones, Zeal. "Zeal Jones Linkedin Profile". Linkedin.
- ↑ "Paddon wins BOP but Hunt still holds title sway | :: Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship ::". Retrieved 2024-11-11.
- ↑ Rally, Otago (2024-02-12). "New scholarship winners selected for Otago". Otago Rally New Zealand. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 "ChrisSport". chrissport.nz. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
- ↑ Evans, David (2024-09-17). "How a sleeping rally giant has arisen again". DirtFish. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
- ↑ "By the numbers – Google Grant's key numbers for Rally BOP | :: Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship ::". Retrieved 2024-11-29.
- ↑ Whitten, Luke (2024-09-19). "Jones off to Japan for Toyota program". RallySport Magazine. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
- ↑ "Jones gets to grips with GR thoroughbreds ahead of big Japan trip". Toyota NZ. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
- ↑ Npews, Velocity (2024-10-31). "World class performance sees Jones head to Finland". VelocityNews. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
- ↑ CORPORATION, TOYOTA MOTOR. "Matsushita and Goto deliver pace and progress in Lahti | Press Releases | WRC CHALLENGE PROGRAM". TOYOTA GAZOO Racing. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
- ↑ Jordie (2025-01-08). "Jones learns a lot from Japanese Rally shootout experience". MotorSport New Zealand. Retrieved 2025-01-20.
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 Wednesday; January 2025, 8; Zealand, 9:17 am Press Release: Toyota New. "Jones Learns A Lot From Japanese Experience | Scoop News". www.scoop.co.nz. Retrieved 2025-01-20.
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