MOTORSPORT
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Dubbo driver Jake Williams put a tumultuous season behind him to claim a pair of victories in the final round of the Australian Manufacturers Championship (Amchamp) series.
Williams guided his Conroy Motorsport-owned Honda Integra into fifth place overall in the series, which comprised of five rounds.
After winning the first round earlier in the year he battled mechanical issues and team politics before returning to gain some redemption in the final races of the 2014 campaign.
"It's been an up-and-down year for us, that's for sure," Williams said.
"After winning the first round we had some technical problems in the second round and in the third round we weren't given enough fuel to finish, which was frustrating.
"I didn't race in round four and then decided to give it one final crack to show a few people what I was capable of in the last race.
"I'm glad I did that, the weekend went really well and to win two 200km races was a good way to end the year."
Williams got his start in motosport when he started racing bikes as a youngster but after getting a taste for racing his father's car in an event at Bathurst he got hooked on the four-wheel events.
He now balances his racing commitments with work as a rhino keeper at Taronga Western Plains Zoo.
"Work is really good about my racing, as it does take up a bit of time but it's something I enjoy," he said.
"It took a lot of patience and perseverance, and volunteering before I got my chance at the zoo but I love what I do.
"I also put a lot of effort into fitness with lots of cardio and gym work, and swimming in summer, just to be fit enough to be able to compete."
With 2014 now behind him, Williams' next major event won't be until he hops into his father's car to compete at the Bathurst Motorsport Festival next Easter.
He is also hopeful of competing in next year's Amchamp series.
"We will wait for next season to start and see what options are available as far as deciding on a team," he said.
"I'd like to look at categories higher up but we just don't have the budget to be able to compete at the next level.
"Hopefully down the track I might get looked at by other teams, and there is a lot more coverage of the series now than in the past, but you still need a budget so we'll have to see what happens because it's pretty expensive to be competitive in motorsport."