By Nancy Schilke - Motorsport.com

Georgia's Jason Workman will race anywhere from North America to Europe, the
young man has raced open wheel to endurance cars.  At Mosport International
Raceway, he and co-driver Melanie Paterson will start the Toyota Grand Prix
of Mosport from 24th on the grid and fifth in the LMP675 class.

Workman and Canadian driver Paterson recently finished second in LMP675 at the
Le Grand Prix of Trois-Rivieres, "A lot of luck finally came out way,"
Workman commented referring to the under power, under weight and lower
budget Essex Racing
Lolo B2K/40/Nissan.  

Workman is happy to have the full season with the team, "They are great and
we know the odds, our goal is to finish and keep out of trouble but still be
aggressive."  The team finished third at the Sears Point July race.

Now 26, Workman started in racing career at the Skip Barber Racing Series in
Road Atlanta before moving to the US Formula Ford 2000 Regional
competitions.  In 1997, he decided to try Europe and found a ride in the
Formula Opel Lola series - a series that traveled throughout Europe at
selected Formula One venues.  

Even though the series only consisted of five races, the opportunity to drive
the F1 tracks with upcoming open wheel racers like Justin Wilson was an
a great experience, "I learned a lot!  I was with a Dutch team and the
entire experience was incredible."

On his return to the United States, Workman entered the National US FF2000
series on a low budget.  He did win four of the seven races he entered and
between working at restaurants and bartending here and there, the young man
decided to return to Europe in 1998 to try his luck in the Formula 2000
Nordic Cup.

By the end of the year, Workman became one of only four Americans to win the
championship.  "Then I had the opportunity to run two races in the Formula
Renault Euro Cup, that was a lot of fun and great experience."

Workman's 2000 to 2001 years were non-racing season.  As tough as it got, he endured
and was lucky enough to land a ride with Archangel Motorsports at the Petit
Le Mans in October of 2001.  As an experience racer at Road Atlanta, he had
no problem returning to the cockpit, "it was easy to return, had no problems
at all - like I never sat out that length of time.

The race was his first time in an sports car and not an open wheel, he shared
the driving with Ben Devlin and Andrew Davis, both experience endurance
racers and the team driver for the season.

"The race car was very adaptable between the three of us which made it
easier. I enjoyed my first experience in endurance races, the team was great
and all of us (the drivers) were quick and consistent.  I feel in love with
it - so many dimensions in this type of racing.

"You have to learn to be patient, yet aggressive.  Take some risks but know
you have a long way to go to get to the finish.  We finished second
(LMP675)."

Again, 2002 was a year of testing and hoping for Workman.  Archangel invited
him back for the October Petit Le Mans event at Road Atlanta where the team
repeated their 2001 performance, this time with Devlin and George Forgeois.

"The waiting was really tough, I kept searching and waited it out."  With
his determination, Workman's wait ended this year when he got the ride with
Essex Racing.

Workman feels the team is doing good when they can qualifying as high as the
GT factory Porsches.

With Mosport being one of the many new tracks he has visited this year, his
co-driver has raced here many times and gave him "a heads up on the
elevation changes.  Been a great help and Melanie (Paterson) is very nice,
very consistent and a good driver.

"Mosport is very fast, takes a lot of guts - you have to come into every
corner either mostly blind or fast or both.  You have to have commitment, be
aggressive and trusting at this track."

His future is still undecided as Workman wants to make the best career move,
yet be reasonable and flexible.  He wants to enjoy racing no matter where or
what type of race car, "just not bike racing - that is scary and a bit
nuts.  I would love to do the Baja at least once and have looked at rally
opportunities as well as stockcars.  I hope to develop some options and
decide which way to go that is best for me and my future."




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