Neil at Silverstone - Formula Ford 1600
Neil, better known as 'The racing JCB driver' has returned from a successful first outing at Silverstone in the Walter Hayes Trophy. The prestigious race drew an incredible
entry entry of 152 drivers, many of them seasoned veterans.
The Formula Ford 1600 car used is a single seater, ideal for the Silverstone circuit, and this was Neil's first experience of it. "I hoped to acquit myself well even though I hadn't
sat in a race car for 18 months" said Neil. His team mate was Formula 3 star, Steven Kane who is managed by Damon Hill.
The weather forecast was pretty dismal but, at least, on Friday, in practice it stayed dry, and Neil was fifth in the practice session, a fact which astonished many of the onlookers.
Then, in deteriorating conditions, with a slippy track he went out in the first qualifying session finishing 13 th. After that the heavens opened and the whole event seemed
in danger of being abandoned altogether, but somehow the heats were able to be run. As Neil said "with so much standing water on the track it was like driving in a fog, such
was the amount of spray, and again I finished 13 th. This meant that I just missed out on automatic qualification into the semi-final".
However he went into the Consolation Race, the top one of three races for non-qualifiers and would have started 5th on the grid. Conditions got even worse and these three races
were abandoned, but the race officials decreed that the top eight starters in the Consolation Race would be entered for the semi-finals. Neil was to start last on the grid
at position no. 34 in the first semi-final. "Nevertheless" said Neil, "I was delighted to be in the semis at all". He fought his way up through the field and managed to achieve 20 th
position, just missing out on a place in the final. "I wasn't disappointed, however" said Neil, "I came to race at Silverstone and do the best I could, finishing above a number of
well-known names. However, I was
delighted that the third podium position in the final went to a good friend of mine, Nathan Freke, who I last raced against in the TVR Tuscan Challenge at Knockhill"
"The highspot for me in the weekend's events was to meet my boyhood idol, Sir Jackie Stewart who congratulated me on doing so well in my first outing in the Walter Hayes
Trophy. We had quite a chat, and I found him to be a very pleasant person. I discovered that we had a common interest in clay pigeon shooting - he being a Scottish
Champion, and me having won a competition at my first attempt a few weeks ago".
"I have to thank David Joseph of EIC, my employers AB2000, Essentially Sport - Jenson Button's former management team and Bonzer Racing - for help and support which allowed
me to take part in this great event".
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Racing
Calendar 2005
Walter Hayes Trophy
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Silverstone |
Nov 4th-6th |
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Neil will be updating the racing calander on a regular basis - Stay tuned! |
Sky
Sports Schedule
Walter Hayes Trophy Silverstone
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Wed 16th Nov |
02.00 |
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Wed 16th Nov
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18.00 |
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Thurs 17th Nov
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12.30 |
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