Jonathan Jones
Four times Formula One powerboating world champion
- Born:
-
09
MAR
1957
- Place of Birth:
- Cardigan
"In the racing season I get to go pretty much all over the world and believe me, there's a great deal to be said for living in Cardigan - I wouldn't move if you paid me!"
Jonathan Jones
- Biography:
-
Jonathan Jones was born and brought up in Cardigan. Now married with three children, he still lives in the town despite the regular globe-trotting which has come in the wake of his success as one of the world's top powerboat competitors.
As a child, Jonathan Jones used to watch Cardigan's annual speed boat races. He was given his first opportunity to try the sport for himself when he was 15 in a 12-foot boat with a 25 horsepower engine. After a few races, he was hooked.
In 1979 he won his first big race - the Formula Four world championship at Bristol Dock. He took the British title in 1981 before moving up into Formula One.
In 1985, at the age of 22, he became F1 world champion - a title he was to win a further three times in 1989, 1991 and 1998.
Against The Odds
His 1991 victory was won against the odds. He'd been involved in a horrific crash at the Hungarian Grand Prix, suffering a compound leg fracture which prevented him from competing in several of the championship rounds. He underwent an operation to insert a metal plate, running from his knee to his ankle and held in with 18 pins.
Despite his injury, he was determined to compete and in the final grand prix at Singapore three months later, he took the championship by a single point from the German competitor Michael Werner.
Like motor racing, powerboating today is a sophisticated, high-tech sport. Jonathan's catamaran speedboat has some 400 horsepower, is capable of more than 150 mph and can rocket from 0-60 in under two seconds.
But unlike motor racing, powerboating gets little coverage in the media and the prize money is minimal. When he's not competing or training, Jonathan works in a bank in Fishguard.
- Moment of Glory:
- Winning the 1991 World Championship for the third time in 1991 despite a serious injury in the early stages
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