(Second TRS season)

Birth date: 24 October 1983 (26)

Home town: Taumaranui

Team: Giles Motorsport

Team Principal: Stephen Giles

Engineer: Matt Houston

Sponsors: Jilesen Contractors, Ongarue Transport, King Country Quarries

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Daniel Jilesen was a late starter in motorsport but the 26-year-old from Taumarunui is emerging as a front-runner as he goes into his second season of TRS. His debut with Giles Motorsport last year saw a steady improvement that culminated in a fine third place at Pukekohe at the end of the season.

Before that there had been a run of four fourth placings as Daniel made the transition to racing with slick tyres and wings. Those steady results gave Daniel fifth place overall in the 2008/2009TRS season and runner-up place to Australian Scott Pye in the Rookie rankings.

A carpenter by trade and proud to be a lifelong resident of the King Country township in the central North Island, 26-year-old Daniel says his aim in the coming season is to record pole positions, race wins and finish in the top three.

His father Tony competed in motorcross and karting up until Daniel was 14 and took over the race seat.

Nine years in karting is a solid grounding for any aspiring racer. Daniel raced at national level in the 125cc classes, then spent four years in Formula Ford that resulted  in a third overall in 2006 when he was running an O1 Van Diemen against the quicker Stealth chassis. Daniel typifies the Kiwi driver that simply wants to compete in top-level single seaters in his own country.

The decision to run in a professional team with Steve Giles proved wise as his consistency steadily improved throughout the 2008/2009 season and he began to understand the set-up assistance he gained working alongside Mitch Cunningham during the Aucklander’s run to last year’s title.

The stocky central North Islander may eventually make a transition to V8 tourings; using his TRS skills in much the same way that Shane van Gisbergen did after working with Steve Giles.  Daniel races in the ex-Daniel Gaunt double-TRS Championship winning chassis.