FUTURE STARS OF RC: Jessica Palsson

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Tyler Hooks

0 July 9, 2019, 9:04 a.m.

By Tyler Hooks
LiveRC.com

Future Stars of RC is a regular column on LiveRC where Tyler Hooks has a conversation with fellow up-and-coming racers across the country, covering youth-friendly topics such as school subjects, watching TV, throwing huge whips and, of course, relationships. 

Jessica Palsson is one of the top Swedish stars despite her young age. Just after interview was conducted she won the national championship for 1/8th electric buggy in Sweden. Check this out and learn some more in this week's Future Stars of RC.

Name: Jessica Pålsson
Ages: 16 years old
Sponsors: Sanwa, Aka, Schumacher, LRP, Runner Time, PSR, TQ Grafix, CityBygg, MicroRacing.se

TH: When did you first begin racing?
JP: I was like 6.5 years old when I started drive rc car, it was my dad´s car, first race I drove when I was 7.5 years old at my home track.

TH: What is your biggest racing accomplishment?
JP: I`m two times Swedish Champion in 1:8 Buggy Electric, and two times Swedish Cup Champion in 1:8 Buggy Nitro

TH: What is your worst racing failure?
JP: DNC in February in California, this year, we didn`t test my new car and my new engines. How to write… it was a little embarrassing for me and dad, our cars should always work, it is “a must”, but this time we had no check on my cars.... not good!  And we will never ever go to a race with completely new car without test it first!

TH: Where do you attend school, and what is your goal for a future occupation?
JP: I go to high school, children and leisure programs. The plan is to be sport teacher. But if I have got chance to choose, I would pause the school now and focus 101% on RC .... But if I pause the school then dad and mom will not pay my RC trips anymore, and this is big problem for me...
I know school is important but RC is more fun! So at least I must finish high school, then will be 101% RC ☺

TH: What is your favorite class for school and racing?
JP: School: Sport and Art         RC: 1:8 Nitro and 1:10 2WD

TH: What do you think of the old saying “girls just get in the way of racing?”
JP: I have never heard this before, I have heard “you drive like a girl” But both are not nice, not fair! I think they come from man`s ego ;) Many men think that they own motorsport, they are best and it`s only them have right to win (check last post about me, Swedish Champion in 1:8 Electric 2019 on “Neobuggy, colored website”)
We girls are not so exclusive with speed, we are maybe not the fastest on the tracks, but we drive smart and definitely every girl on the track should be respected. Girls are good drivers too and can win races… but I understand, it`s not tuff to come home and tell to wife or girlfriend: I was beaten by a girl ;)
But there are drivers in this sport that respect girls so an extra thumb up for them ☺

TH: What is your real dream car?
JP: For big car my dream car is Ford Focus and for RC I got my dream car for 1:10 ☺ I watched Schumacher a lot last year at EOS and they looked really fast at the track. Can`t wait to start practice with them. And for 1:8 I am still looking for it ;)

TH: Huge whips, driving absolutely flat out or more calculated driving, smoother on the throttle?
JP: I would say that I have more calculated driving style and is very smooth with the throttle. It’s often that I am making up a plan on how I would try to get the “best” line at the track. Now I am just going to practice on the speed.

TH: Action Sports or Conventional sports, what do you follow in your free time?
JP: RC is my free time, my life style! But I have two crazy bunnies Happy and Nicki, they take much of my free time... especially when they try to eat up all of my shoes. I like to read books, run and paint.

TH: This interview comes after you just signed with new chassis sponsor Schumacher Racing, how has the transition and change from your previous sponsor been?
JP: I started drive Kyosho 7 year ago, when Aki-san was president of  Kyosho, it was more family feeling in company. Things started change last year, but I`m really grateful and happy for the opportunity that I have gotten to drive for Kyosho International. I have got good start and help from Kyosho, Aki-san and Mitsou-san. Last few months, I started check different cars, new car MP10 doesn’t work for me, so I felt that it’s time for a change. If I wanted continue with racing and have fun, I needed to do something. We all need to test something new sometimes and my last chassis Team was only on website. So Team Schumacher welcomed me very much and wanted to work with me as a team, I`m really happy to enjoy this team in 1:10 buggy. I believe that work with these guys can help me with better results. Combination Schumacher + LRP + Sanwa feel really good for me!
1:8 buggy… I don`t know which one chassis I will use next year, right know I use my chassis 2018, that is MP9. We will do some tests in august, and I hope I can find my new car.


TH: Who did you look up to when you were an even younger racer, or who has been the biggest help to you as a driver?
JP: My dad Micke who has been RC driver over 30 years, Swedish, Nordic and Pre- World Champion 2003 and 2004. He is not only my mechanic, but my RC coach and big help in RC in difficult time. His experience, his knowledge about RC helped me a lot. My good results are thanks to him, thanks his hard job and offer. From the beginning it was a bit difficult to find way to work, but today we are very good Team: 
He fix my cars. I drive them. 
He run-in my engines. I use them. 
He glue my tires. I burn them.
I actually help to roll all the bags ;) 


TH: What is the biggest piece of advice you would give to a new up and coming racer?
JP: Don't push yourself, have fun on the track, laugh a lot. If you fail on a race, don`t give up, after rain always comes sun. Choose equipment that YOU  like, not your friends!