Foster beats Jackson and Mills in thrilling third heat at Walter Hayes

Photo: Ida Wood

Three-time Walter Hayes Trophy winner Joey Foster took victory in the third heat at Silverstone ahead of Cameron Jackson and Tom Mills.

Historic FF1600 star Jackson put up an inspired performance in his 1990-spec Van Diemen, dicing with Foster’s modern Firman in a race that was halted two laps early due to a red flag.

Don Hardman Racing’s Foster was slow away from pole, with Mills grabbing the lead in a Kevin Mills Racing Spectrum, but Foster was back in front by the time they arrived at Brooklands. Jackson then moved ahead of Mills into second at Luffield.

Jackson set the fastest lap on third tour to close in on Foster while Mills came under pressure from Wayne Poole Racing’s Ben Mitchell, who beat Jackson’s laptime next time by.

On lap five Jackson tried a move for the lead on the outside of Brooklands, but was ran out wide by Foster. But, undeterred, he then cutback to the left before driving all the way around the outside at Luffield to edge ahead.

Foster reclaimed the lead into Becketts on the next lap before the red flags were shown. Mills remained ahead of Mitchell, with the top four separated by less than a second.

Lucas Romanek climbed from ninth to fifth for Oldfield Motorsport, and was less than a second behind Mitchell.

The 2001 WHT winner Neil Fowler was sixth ahead of James Penrose and Callum Grant. George McDonald was classified ninth ahead of Adam Higgins, Gabe Tesch and Logan Hannah, the latter making up six places to qualify for the semi-finals.

There was drama twice for John Svensson. Early in the race he made slight contact with a historic car going into Brooklands and lost his nosecone, with it flying into the air in spectacular style. A few laps later, sans nose, he then made contact with another driver at Copse in a racing incident and the resulting damage from the contact and spin left him stranded on track.

Due to his car being in a dangerous position, it was decided to suspend the race so his car could be recovered safely, resulting in the heat finishing two laps short of its scheduled distance.

Race result (6 laps)