The Walter Hayes Trophy is a non-championship

Formula Ford Formula Ford, also known as F1600 and Formula F, is an entry-level class of single seater, open-wheel formula racing. The various championships held across the world form an important step for many prospective Formula One drivers. Formula Fo ...

race. Sanctioned by the Historic Sports Car Club and created by James Beckett the race has grown into the most prestigious Formula Ford race worldwide. The race is held annually in November at the Silverstone Circuit.

History

Walter Hayes Walter Leopold Arthur Hayes (12 April 1924 – 26 December 2000) was an English journalist, and later public relations executive for Ford. Hayes was key in developing Ford's Formula One program, by signing Jackie Stewart and funding the build ...

was a

Ford Motor Company Ford Motor Company (commonly known as Ford) is an American multinational automobile manufacturer headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan, United States. It was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. The company sells automobiles ...

public relations executive. As a public relations executive Hayes was very much involved with racing. Hayes died on 26 December 2000, aged 76. The first Walter Hayes Trophy was held at Silverstone between 26 and 28 August 2001. Neil Fowler won the inaugural race in a classic

Lola Lola may refer to: Places * Lolá, a or subdistrict of Panama * Lola Township, Cherokee County, Kansas, United States * Lola Prefecture, Guinea * Lola, Guinea, a town in Lola Prefecture * Lola Island, in the Solomon Islands People * Lol ...

T200 beating 48 competitors. The 2001 race was the only Trophy held in August as part of the Silverstone Historic Festival. The race was sanctioned by the

BRDC The British Racing Drivers' Club (BRDC) is an exclusive invitation-only members club for racecar drivers who are judged to have achieved success in the upper levels of motor sport for a number of seasons. Except under exceptional circumstances, me ...

. As of 2002 the race is a stand-alone event hosted by the HSCC. Gavin Wills won the race in 2002.

Joey Foster Joseph Nathaneal Foster (born 5 July 1982 in London) is a British racing driver. He has competed in such series as Le Mans Series, Australian Formula Ford Championship and the German Formula Three Championship. He won the 2009 Australian ...

is the most successful Walter Hayes Trophy racer and has won the race four times, the first three in succession in 2003, 2004 and 2005 in

Reynard Reynard the Fox is a literary cycle of medieval allegorical Dutch, English, French and German fables. The first extant versions of the cycle date from the second half of the 12th century. The genre was popular throughout the Late Middle Ages, ...

chassis and in 2022 with Don Hardman Racing in a Firman RFR20 chassis. Three

Team USA Scholarship The Team USA Scholarship is a scholarship program which allows young American racecar drivers to compete outside of the United States. Each year, a competition is used to select the best young racecar drivers in the United States, then they are e ...

racers won the race,

Conor Daly Conor J. Daly (born December 15, 1991) is an American professional racing driver who competes in the NTT IndyCar Series, driving the No. 20 Chevrolet for Ed Carpenter Racing, and part-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 50 Chevrolet Ca ...

in 2008,

Connor De Phillippi Connor De Phillippi (born December 25, 1992) is an American professional racing driver and gold rated BMW Motorsport works driver. Racing career Early career De Phillippi began karting at the age of 5 years old and by the time he was 14 years o ...

in 2009 and

Tristan Nunez Tristan Nunez (born October 31, 1995 in Boynton Beach, Florida) is an American racing driver from in Boca Raton, Florida. He is the son of Juan Nunez, a former professional tennis player and coach. Nunez has a fraternal twin brother, Dylan, who ...

in 2012. Fellow Team USA Scholarship driver

Oliver Askew Oliver Clark Askew (born December 12, 1996) is an American-Swedish auto racing, race car driver who races under the American flag. He previously competed in the 2021-22 Formula E World Championship, Formula E World Championship for Andretti Auto ...

finished second in 2016. The 2020 edition had 104 participants, three of whom were hospitalised because of a crash.

Winners

References

{{reflist Formula Ford Formula races