Rory Smith wins eventful Walter Hayes Trophy heat four

Photo: Ida Wood

B-M Racing’s Rory Smith prevailed in a thrilling late scrap with Jason Smyth to win the fourth Walter Hayes Trophy heat on Silverstone’s National layout.

Team Dolan’s Smyth moved past Wayne Poole Racing’s Josh Fisher for second into Copse at the start, while Smith converted pole into the lead.

There was a three-car collision moments later, with B-M’s David McArthur moving to the inside of KMR Sport’s Jacob Tofts and Tom Nippers heading into Becketts but locked up and ran into Tofts.

While Nippers avoided the melee to remain fifth, Dolan’s Iscaac Canto da Silva was collected by Toft’s spinning car and retired on the spot after losing his rear-right wheel.

Fisher, meanwhile, slipped to fourth behind Mikel Bezuidenhout and almost made contact with the KMR driver after locking up into Brooklands.

Smith and Smyth quickly built a gap at the front, while Fisher continued to scrap with Bezuidenhout behind. The battle for third ended in tears approaching the halfway stage, however.

With Nippers sneaking up the inside of the pair on the Wellington Straight, Bezuidenhout and Fisher collided at Brooklands and then made secondary contact after sliding off the road, with Fisher’s car briefly becoming airborne, though both drivers were able to continue.

The lead battle started to heat up on lap five, with Smith defending the inside into Copse and later on into Brooklands. The pair locked horns again on lap seven, with Smyth edging ahead approaching Becketts only for Smith to brake later to reclaim the advantage, and the wheel-to-wheel dice continued all the way down the Wellington Straight.

Having lost out to Smyth into Brooklands, Smith dummied to the outside of his rival at the start of the final lap before moving back to the inside and snatching the lead once more into Copse. Smyth was able to remain alongside on the run to Becketts, where Smith was again able to brake later.

Smith resisted one more challenge into Brooklands before taking victory, with Nippers thrilled to be in third behind them.

Bezuidenhout recovered past Oldfield Motorsport’s Ben Cox to take fourth while Souley Motorsport’s William Liston lost out in a late battle with the pair to finish sixth. Wayne Poole’s Benn Tilley was seventh ahead of privateer Ben Miloudi and Fisher, with Souley’s Peter Lucas 10th.

Heat 4 result (8 laps)