Some of you may have noticed that John has been “conspicuously” absent from the drivers’ seat this season! Don’t worry, Racing still remains a big passion of his, and he will be back in the many future racing seasons to come! However, for this year and next, John has his sights set on piloting something that is event more “out of this world”.

John will server as mission pilot for Axiom Space’s Ax-2 with record-holding astronaut Peggy Whitson as Commander on a mission to the International Space Station that will enable new private-industry research in space.

But his intensive space training regiment has unfortunately left very little time for him in his more earth-bound race car.

The mission flight is scheduled for 2022 and part of John’s training as mission pilot means he not only has to be familiar with the specialised spacecraft operations, but also all faculties of life aboard the ISS, including safety and regulations of every different international part of the station.

He is also currently training as back up mission pilot for the Ax-1 mission set for early 2022.

For more info read the official press release on the Axiom Space website here!