Jim Ka To
Encyclopedia
Jim Ka To (born 28 November, 1985 in Hong Kong
), is a race car driver
who competed in the 2001 Formula Renault 2000 Eurocup.
He started racing at an early age at the Zhuhai International Circuit
. He showed great potential in the China Formula Campus
series and was sent by Formula Racing Developments to La Filière
in France to be trained to become a racing driver.
Upon his return, he took pole position in the Asian Formula 2000 race in Macau at the age of 16. But his career has stagnated since then.
race, beating drivers like Kamui Kobayashi
, Scott Speed
and Bruno Senna
. But he crashed in the race and was taken to hospital for a check up. He was uninjured.
He was signed by Red Bull
to join their young drivers' programme for 2005 and was to join the Motorpark Oschersleben team that took Scott Speed to the 2004 Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup title. But due to health problems, he returned to Hong Kong before entering any race in the 2005 series.
and won two races in Zhuhai
in January and finish best Asian driver this season. He is competing with Formula Racing Developments racing team, under the management of Kenneth Ma.
In November 2007, Jim Ka To has been announced as one of the drivers for Team PTRS for the 2007/08 Asian Formula Three Championship
. He partnered Briton Matt Howson.
In 2008, Jim Ka To competes in the Asian Formula Renault
Championship again for Formula Racing Developments, sponsored by Frestech Electrical Appliances. He will also compete in the Formula BMW
Pacific Series' finale at the Macau Grand Prix
.
From 13 to 16 November 2008, Jim Ka To took part in the Formula BMW Pacific race in Macau. He qualified 12th and crashed in the race. His crash caused the race to be stopped and he was classified 7th in the final results.
On 13 and 14 December 2004, Jim Ka To competed in the final two rounds of the Asian Formula Renault Championship. He won both races and became the 2008 Asian Formula Renault Champion, beating Geoffrey Kwong.
Jim Ka To was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm, inflicting grevious bodily harm and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. On 26 May 2009, he was found guilty by the Kwun Tong Magistracy. He is instantly imprisoned and he received a 15-month sentence on 16 June 2009. After three months in jail, he was released on appeal on 16 September 2009.
race at the 2009 Macau Grand Prix
. He finished fourth in the race. It was the eighth time he raced in Macau.
in Hong Kong. He was convicted of careless driving and driving an uninsured car on 10 January 2010 at the Kowloon City Magistrate. He was fined HK$2,900 with his driving license suspended for a year.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
), is a race car driver
Driving
Driving is the controlled operation and movement of a land vehicle, such as a car, truck or bus.Although direct operation of a bicycle and a mounted animal are commonly referred to as riding, such operators are legally considered drivers and are required to obey the rules of the road...
who competed in the 2001 Formula Renault 2000 Eurocup.
He started racing at an early age at the Zhuhai International Circuit
Zhuhai International Circuit
Zhuhai International Circuit is located at Jin Ding town in Zhuhai City, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China.Motorsport started in Zhuhai when it hosted a race on its street circuit in 1993, racing continued until 1996 when the motor racing circuit was constructed and became China’s...
. He showed great potential in the China Formula Campus
F4 Eurocup 1.6
French F4 Championship, formerly known as Formula Renault Campus France, Formula Campus, Formul'Academy Euro Series, F4 Eurocup 1.6 is a form of open wheel racing founded in 1993 by Louis Drouet. It is based in France. The series currently organized in collaboration with the Fédération Française du...
series and was sent by Formula Racing Developments to La Filière
La Filiere
Auto Sport Academy was created in 1993 by Elf Aquitaine to promote French drivers at the highest level, in line with its marketing approach and its commitment to Renault in F1...
in France to be trained to become a racing driver.
Upon his return, he took pole position in the Asian Formula 2000 race in Macau at the age of 16. But his career has stagnated since then.
2004
In 2004, Jim Ka To finished second in the Asian Formula Renault Championship. He then scored a sensational pole position in the Macau Formula RenaultFormula Renault
Formula Renault is a class of formula racing founded in 1971. It is popular in Europe and other countries. Regarded as an entry-level series to motor racing, it is a respected series where drivers can learn advanced racecraft before moving on to Formula Three, World Series by Renault, GP2 or...
race, beating drivers like Kamui Kobayashi
Kamui Kobayashi
is a Japanese racing driver. He has competed in the GP2 Series, won the GP2 Asia Series, and made his Formula One debut with Toyota in the final two races of when he replaced Timo Glock after the German was injured in a crash during qualifying for the...
, Scott Speed
Scott Speed
Scott Andrew Speed is an American race car driver. Formerly a driver for the Scuderia Toro Rosso F1 team, he made his Formula One race debut at the 2006 Bahrain Grand Prix; becoming the first American to race in F1 since Michael Andretti in 1993...
and Bruno Senna
Bruno Senna
Bruno Senna Lalli is a Brazilian Formula One racing driver and the nephew of the late three-time Formula One world champion Ayrton Senna. His mother is Ayrton's older sister, Viviane. His father, Flávio Lalli, died in a motorcycle crash in 1996. He wears a slightly modified version of his uncle's...
. But he crashed in the race and was taken to hospital for a check up. He was uninjured.
He was signed by Red Bull
Red Bull
Red Bull is an energy drink sold by the Austrian Red Bull GmbH, created in 1987 by the Austrian entrepreneur Dietrich Mateschitz. In terms of market share, Red Bull is the most popular energy drink in the world, with 3 billion cans sold each year. Dietrich Mateschitz was inspired by an already...
to join their young drivers' programme for 2005 and was to join the Motorpark Oschersleben team that took Scott Speed to the 2004 Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup title. But due to health problems, he returned to Hong Kong before entering any race in the 2005 series.
2007
In 2007, he is competing in the Asian Formula Renault ChallengeAsian Formula Renault Challenge
The Asian Formula Renault Challenge is a Formula Renault 2.0 championship held on Asia. The series debuted in 2002 and also held the China Formula Renault Challenge....
and won two races in Zhuhai
Zhuhai International Circuit
Zhuhai International Circuit is located at Jin Ding town in Zhuhai City, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China.Motorsport started in Zhuhai when it hosted a race on its street circuit in 1993, racing continued until 1996 when the motor racing circuit was constructed and became China’s...
in January and finish best Asian driver this season. He is competing with Formula Racing Developments racing team, under the management of Kenneth Ma.
In November 2007, Jim Ka To has been announced as one of the drivers for Team PTRS for the 2007/08 Asian Formula Three Championship
Asian Formula Three Championship
The Asian Formula Three Championship was a single-seater racing series based in South East Asia. It is one of a number of national and international Formula Three championships that form part of an established "career ladder" below Formula One. It was sanctioned by the Automobile Association of the...
. He partnered Briton Matt Howson.
2008 season
Formula Renault
Formula Renault is a class of formula racing founded in 1971. It is popular in Europe and other countries. Regarded as an entry-level series to motor racing, it is a respected series where drivers can learn advanced racecraft before moving on to Formula Three, World Series by Renault, GP2 or...
Championship again for Formula Racing Developments, sponsored by Frestech Electrical Appliances. He will also compete in the Formula BMW
Formula BMW
Formula BMW is a junior racing formula for single seater cars. It is positioned at the bottom of the motorsport career ladder alongside the longer established Formula Ford category...
Pacific Series' finale at the Macau Grand Prix
Macau Grand Prix
The Macau Grand Prix is a motor-racing event held annually in Macau, one of China's Special Administrative Regions. It is known for being the only street circuit racing event in which both car and motorcycle races are held...
.
From 13 to 16 November 2008, Jim Ka To took part in the Formula BMW Pacific race in Macau. He qualified 12th and crashed in the race. His crash caused the race to be stopped and he was classified 7th in the final results.
On 13 and 14 December 2004, Jim Ka To competed in the final two rounds of the Asian Formula Renault Championship. He won both races and became the 2008 Asian Formula Renault Champion, beating Geoffrey Kwong.
2008 Assault case
On 4 November 2008, Ka To was arrested by the police for suspicion of assault at the Hong Kong Macau Ferry Terminal.Jim Ka To was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm, inflicting grevious bodily harm and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. On 26 May 2009, he was found guilty by the Kwun Tong Magistracy. He is instantly imprisoned and he received a 15-month sentence on 16 June 2009. After three months in jail, he was released on appeal on 16 September 2009.
2009 Formula BMW Pacific
After being released from jail, he entered the 2009 Formula BMW PacificFormula BMW
Formula BMW is a junior racing formula for single seater cars. It is positioned at the bottom of the motorsport career ladder alongside the longer established Formula Ford category...
race at the 2009 Macau Grand Prix
Macau Grand Prix
The Macau Grand Prix is a motor-racing event held annually in Macau, one of China's Special Administrative Regions. It is known for being the only street circuit racing event in which both car and motorcycle races are held...
. He finished fourth in the race. It was the eighth time he raced in Macau.
2010 Formula BMW Pacific
Jim Ka To competed again in the Macau round of the 2010 Formula BMW Pacific season. He qualified 13th and finished 7th.2010 accident and conviction
At 2am on 23 June 2010, Jim Ka To crashed his friend's car into the back of a taxi on Cherry StreetCherry Street, Hong Kong
Cherry Street is a street in Tai Kok Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong. It was a street to Tai Kok Tsui Ferry Pier. After the reclamation of the West Kowloon in 1990s, it became a road across the new reclamation and a tunnel was built under the Olympic Station....
in Hong Kong. He was convicted of careless driving and driving an uninsured car on 10 January 2010 at the Kowloon City Magistrate. He was fined HK$2,900 with his driving license suspended for a year.