Some people thrive off of a good adrenaline rush. Jake Bonilla is one of those people. At 22 years old, his passion for racing has led him to where he is today, fearlessly navigating high-speed circuits behind the wheel.
It all started six years ago, when Bonilla was working at a go-kart track. While he grew up loving NASCAR, it was his exceptional speed when hopping into races that sparked his serious interest in pursuing competing.
“For my birthday, we did testing with a Formula 4 team based out of Austin at the Circuit of the Americas Formula 1 track,” says Bonilla. “That first time I drove the F4 car, I did well when compared to the team's series drivers. My lap times were really fast for never having driven the car before.”
With just two weeks of official training under his belt, Bonilla took on his first professional race at 17. When combining the fact that he was so new to everything and that this would be the pre-race for Formula 1, there were, naturally, a lot of nerves there. But as Bonilla got strapped into the car, the knowledge that he was meant to be there sharpened his focus.
“As soon as it’s time to go, you get in this mindset of wanting to win,” says Bonilla. “All the hard work you’ve been putting in—physical fitness, seat time, reviewing lap data, studying tracks—comes into play.”
Since his debut, Bonilla’s love for racing hasn’t wavered. Even off the track, when he isn’t handling customized cars in his brother-in-law’s wrap shop, he dedicates time to practicing on his simulator at home.
Throughout his career, Bonilla has held his own on numerous tracks. That includes Sonoma Raceway in California, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Ohio, and Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta in Georgia. A circuit that has especially stuck out to Bonilla for its technicality and difficulty is Sebring International Raceway in Florida, although COTA will forever hold a place in his heart as his home track.
“One of my favorite memories is when I qualified second out of 36 international drivers as a support race for the United States F1 Grand Prix in Austin. Starting on the front row, looking out at a crowd of over 150,000 people… That was an insane experience,” says Bonilla.
Earlier this year, he advanced to Formula 3 and took his skills thousands of miles away to New Zealand to race in the Castrol Toyota FR Oceania Championship with Kiwi Motorsport. For Bonilla, it felt unreal to be there, seeing the F3 car in person, getting his custom seat made, and learning the different tracks he would race. He jumped straight into the first race weekend without having driven that specific car before, while adjusting strategies in response to wet and dry weather.
“Once you get a few laps under your belt, you become connected. You know what you have to do,” says Bonilla. “All of the drivers were amazing and champions from their home countries. I held my own and competed with the world’s best—that was my goal.”
As he continues to chase his end goal of Formula 1, Bonilla remains grounded in the belief that good things come to people who work hard. With each new challenge he faces, he embraces the opportunity to prove himself and push boundaries.
Follow along with Jake Bonilla’s journey on Instagram @jake_bonilla and see how you can sponsor a Texas driver!
