Photos: Ida Wood
Formula Scout has gone through the Walter Hayes Trophy entry list to find out who’s likely to shine this weekend, and some of the stories behind the drivers and teams taking part at Silverstone
Some of the best slipstreaming action in single-seater racing, and in all sorts of weather conditions, can be found on the first weekend of November each year at Silverstone in Formula Ford’s Walter Hayes Trophy.
Normally it’s close to freezing when the cars head out in the morning, but pre-event testing for the 25th edition of the WHT has featured air temperatures consistently around 14°C. While the air will be less dense, it also has been moving around at high speeds given Silverstone is an old airfield and what is a headwind down one straight becomes a crosswind for the others.
Some drivers have made engine adjustments seeking top-end speed, but that has not translated into improved laptimes, while short but intense spells of rain during testing left the track wet for many hour afterwards.
The predictions of overnight rain heading into Saturday came true at four minutes past midnight, but puddles remain. Some blame a spooky halloween moon last night for this weather, and others making a FF1600 comeback after a prolonged absence also attribute rustiness and cobwebs in the cockpit on halloween. Testing did however help shake most of those off.
There are ‘Race against Dementia’ stickers adorning the 100-plus cars contesting this weekend’s event, in support of the charity established by three-time Formula 1 world champion Sir Jackie Stewart. He has been a long-time fan of the WHT, and the man which the event is named after since Walter Hayes had a key influence on Stewart’s racing career.
His charity works to speed up the research that takes places worldwide into finding a cure for dementia, which his wife has suffered from.
There is another charity adorning cars this weekend, as Tom Harrison House supports the entry of new team Shift Point Racing. Its work focuses on supporting veterans of the emergency services and British Armed Forces in PTSD treatment. A 12-week residential care plan is at the centre of its activities, and helps veterans with additions and complex trauma needs that mainstream rehabilitation programmes may not be able to address.
While the Team USA and Team Canada scholarships have not sent drivers to the WHT this year, their past winners and other affiliated drivers have decided to enter the event and making their FF1600 comeback in partnership with a South African scheme is KMR Sport.
A staple of the UK’s FF1600 paddocks for many years, the team expanded into winged single-seaters a few years ago and won both titles in GB4 in 2023. It always planned to enter the WHT despite a lack of FF1600 action preceding this weekend, and would like to do a campaign in WHT founder James Beckett’s United Formula Ford championship in 2026 if the dates do not clash with its existing commitments. It is still also developing its fleet of Spectrum 011C chassis.
B-M Racing
#1 Rory Smith ENGLAND/AUSTRALIA Medina Sport JL18
2025: 10th in United FFord, 4th in FFord Festival, 9th in Castle Combe Racing Club FFord Walter Hayes Trophy: 2024 winner
The reigning winner missed some of testing due to being busy with work in accounting, and racing taking a back seat has been a common element of his last two years. That doesn’t seem to slow him down, as he was fourth in last weekend’s FFord Festival and he enters this weekend as the defending WHT winner after soaking up race-long pressure in the 2024 final.
#3 Jordan Dempsey IRELAND Medina Sport BH23
2025: 2nd in FFF, 17th in United FFord WHT: 2019 winner
Two United FFord rounds and the Festival count as Dempsey’s preparatory mileage for the WHT, and he looked quick in the wet and the dry during testing.
#6 Michael Fitzgerald IRELAND Medina Sport BH22
2025: 27th in United FFord WHT: Progression race in 2024
Not to be confused with racing drivers of the same name, Fitzgerald is in fact the creator of the Star Wars fan film ‘Stormtroopers’ and will be recognised by Game of Thrones fans as a Glover general in season six. His latest acting role is in American sitcom Going Dutch.
#8 Nigel Dolan IRELAND Van Diemen RF90
WHT: Semi-finalist in 2021, ’22 & ’24
Being in an older car doesn’t mean the final is out of reach for a driver at the WHT, and Dolan will be aiming to reach it for the first time.
#12 Drew Cameron ENGLAND Medina Mk2
2025: 20th in United FFord WHT: 26th in 2024
Cameron was a karter in the early 1990s, then in the 2000s embarked on a sportscar career before spending five years in FF2000. His FF1600 debut in September 2022 lasted three corners, but he’s coming back to the category for more mileage and better results since. This year he did two Heroes of FF1600 Sprint Cup rounds and United FFord, getting a taste of Silverstone’s International layout rather than the National layout that the WHT uses.
For work, Cameron is in the business of “renting air”, i.e. storage centres, and his father’s best friend designed the Vector TF94 that swept the FFord scene in 1994.
#15 David McArthur ENGLAND Medina Sport BH19
2025: no racing WHT: 13th in 2015
This is McArthur’s first FFord race since 2024, and according to team boss Andy Brickles the team was staying somewhere with a pool during pre-event testing so the warm weather means a swim has made his drivers refreshed and ready for action.
#74 Grace Parkington ENGLAND Van Diemen DP08
2025: 7th in Classic FFord
Parkington is one of B-M’s mechanics, but she is a racer in her own right on the side as she drives a Crossle 25F in Classic FFord. This is not only her WHT debut but also her first time racing a modern FFord car.
#217 Tom McArthur ENGLAND Medina Sport Mk1
2025: no racing WHT: 10th in 2018
Like brother David, Tom has also not raced in FFord since the 2024 WHT and was at the same hotel so also possibly had a halloween swim to get himself ready for his return.
Team Dolan
#5 Niall Murray IRELAND Van Diemen BD26
2025: 3rd in FFF WHT: 2016 winner
Murray told Formula Scout that testing was “really good, straight away we were on the pace in the wet” and dry.
“Long story short, it seems to be myself and Jason [Smyth] again. In the wet and dry,” he reckons, although it was the cars with the newest tyres that set the test pace.
With running on older rubber, he thinks “definitely still more time to come from the both of us” at Dolan and he expects “possibly the only dry running we’ll get will be the final”. Saturday morning weather suggests otherwise.
#26 Jason Smyth IRELAND Van Diemen JL12
2025: FFF winner, United FFord champion, Northern Irish FF1600 WHT: Finalist in 2024
The son of 2010 FFord Kent Festival winner Neville Smyth won this year’s United FFord title, had some fun winning at the end of the NI FF1600 season and then emulated his father by winning the Festival.
“I think we were quickest in the dry [on Thursday], and then today we were quickest,” he said during pre-event testing. “Well, me and Niall were running our own league.”
While he claims to be fastest, Smyth also admitted he made tweaks late in testing that did not work in the wet for his car while Murray found further pace.
#27 Stephen O’Connor IRELAND Van Diemen RF90
2025: Finalist in FFF, NI FF1600, 18th in United FFord WHT: Semi-finalist in 2024
O’Connor impressively took a damaged car through the heats and to the semi-finals last year, which was his first WHT attempt, and like his team-mates he has been busy in Northern Ireland then did the Festival and had a dramatic route to the final as a reserve.
#32 Gary Newsome IRELAND Van Diemen LA10
The 2009 Leinster Trophy winner normally runs his own car alongside his brother at Newsome Racing, but is joining Dolan as he tips his toe into FFord since the WHT is a bucket list item for him. He won Ireland’s Formula Vee championship in 2005, has remained loyal to the category since and finds that FF1600 cars’ different engine capacity and handling characteristics mean a fair amount of adaptation is required.
#41 Nigel Smyth IRELAND Royale RP24
Neville’s brother has been inspired by his nephew’s exploits to return to FFord after competing in the Northern Irish championship in 2009 and 2010. The Royale is his own car, which he bought last year from Sweden. To collect it required a winter roadtrip and taking the last boat back to Ireland on Christmas Eve.
#64 Megan Gilkes CANADA Van Diemen BD20
2025: no racing WHT: 11th in 2021
Formula Scout readers will recognise Gilkes’ name from racing in W Series back in 2019 and then being a race-winner in the 2022 GB4 season. Now she is a performance engineer at the Aston Martin F1 team, based across the road from Silverstone.
She is in the car Liroy Stuart drove at the Festival, and it is her first time in a Van Diemen.
“I just really like FFord and the WHT, great event, great format. 25th anniversary would be great grid [so I joined]. A one-off for a bit fun,” she said of coming back to FF1600, where she had a notably compact driving style when she last did the WHT.
#83 Mattia Tremolada ITALY Van Diemen BD20
2025: ACI Historic Racing Weekend
Renowned Italian motorsport journalist Tremolada was attracted to FF1600 last year, and wrote about his first experience of the category in the cockpit for Formula Scout. He then immediately dreamed of racing in the WHT, which will be realised this weekend. Testing was his first experience of wet conditions in a racing car that does not have front-wheel drive, and his #83 number is the same as the AF Corse-run Ferrari hypercar which won this year’s Le Mans 24 Hours and he worked on.
#88 Jonathan Kotyk USA Van Diemen BD20
2025: SCCA Formula F WHT: 6th in 2017 & ’24
Kotyk is in the car Chris Middlehurst previously raced this year, and he comes over from the USA where he has done three events in the SCCA’s Formula F class which is open to Ford and Honda-powered cars. Since the WHT is the competitive FFord event in the world, he thought “why not come back” and improve on last year’s result where he fought at the front.
#99 Jordan Kelly IRELAND Van Diemen RF06
2025: FVee WHT: 12th in 2023
Although Kelly won a lot FF1600 races in Britain over 2023 and ’24, he has only had one race outing in 2025 prior to the WHT, which was FVee’s Leinster Trophy. The competitiveness of the grid that was forming prompted him to return, and he is in the chassis he tasted plenty of success in previously.
He is sponsored by Potato Nation, a Cork-based firm which was part of a YouTuber fundraiser endurance race, and also a solar power company so it’s all about giving back to the Earth with this entry.
#119 Mark McKenna IRELAND Crossle 35F
2025: FFF WHT: semi-finalist in 2023 & ’24
McKenna joined Dolan at last year’s WHT, and has FFord Festival experience from the late 1990s.
KMR Sport
#40 Andrew Rackstraw SOUTH AFRICA Spectrum 011C
2025: Porsche Carrera Cup GB champion WHT: 2nd in 2024
It is a great sign of the WHT grid’s strength that the reigning Porsche Carrera Cup GB champion will be driving. So how is it going from Porsches to FFord?
“So fun. So different. But it’s pure racing. And that’s what I’ve always loved,” he tells Formula Scout.
“It’s the most pure form that I do. And the most fun, the most enjoyment I get out of racing is FFord. To be back with Kevin Mills is amazing. We’ve had a third, a second, so we have to go for first. Otherwise it will just be worse. But I’m here to enjoy myself, have a fun time. Obviously here to win, but just enjoying every second.”
As for his next career steps, “I have to look at GT3” and endurance racing but money is proving an issue right now.
“I wouldn’t want to [defend my Porsche title]. I treally enjoy it, but I think if I’ve won it, I need to move on.”
“Maybe I’m not brave enough. But I’m also not getting any younger, and i need to make the step to europe sooner than later.”
Testing went well, but Rackstraw is among many top names who have been drawn together in heat two: “Tough group, but you’re going to race them at some point. So rather start tacing them earlier on than later. And it should be interesting.”
#68 KC Ensor-Smith SOUTH AFRICA Spectrum 011C
2025: MSA4 champion WHT: 3rd in 2024
What was South Africa’s equivalent of a national FFord championship turned into MSA4 this year, with halo-shod cars inspired by Formula 4. Ensor-Smith was champion, and combined with his starring drive in the 2024 WHT he should be one of the favourites.
#71 Andrew Schofield SOUTH AFRICA Reynard 89FF
2025: 13th in MSA4 WHT: semi-finalist in 2021, ’22, ’23 & ’24
The instigator of the programme bringing his countryman to race in the UK, Schofield has plentiful experience over the years at home and abroad in FF1600 cars.
#72 Brendon Leigh ENGLAND Spectrum 011C
2025: no racing
This is Esports star Leigh’s first real-world racing since a FFord event at Brands Hatch in 2021. All of his time in the driving seat since then has been in his road car getting to A and B.
“Why return? Because the festival is the top of the top, the absolute gleaming star of FFord racing. But i think just about there is the Walter Hayes. I’d love to do the Festival next year, but just being rational about it, coming back into Silverstone. It’s a bit more battling, it’s a bit more fighring. a few more test days as well. And I’ve been coming to the WHT as a spectator for many, many years. And I love it, I absolutely love it. I think it’s the best racing. I think the atmopshere of the Festival is bigger, but I think the racing of the Hayes is better.”
“[Post-2021 highlights include] I make good carbonara. I make good pizza. I mean, I’ve been lucky to have a really fortunate career in Esports. I stopped doing that now. So I’m not doing it full-time. Now I’ve launched my own coaching business, for sim racing. So basically it’s been a shift from focusing on F1 Esports/sim racing to now doing my coaching business and also trying to return to a full-time season next year in FFord.”
#92 Michael Eastwell ENGLAND Spectrum 011C
2025: no racing WHT: 2nd in 2022 & ’23
Eastwell was eighth in the 2024 WHT, his last FFord outing. His dayjob is wildlife photography in Australia, and he is working on a book about Tasmanian Devils.
“We had a very positive Wednesday, and then last two days [were wetter]. Couple of things have changed. I think my team-mates dealt with [the set-up tweaks] better.”
A year out of action shouldn’t stop Eastwell from being a victory contender.
#117 Neil Tofts ENGLAND Mygale SJ08
2025: no racing WHT: semi-finalist in 2012, ’13, ’15 & ’16
#127 Jacob Tofts ENGLAND Spectrum 011C
2025: 3rd in Porsche Sprint Challenge GB WHT: semi-finalist in 2023 & ’24
#171 Julian Van der Watt SOUTH AFRICA Mygale SJ08
2025: 4th in SA Touring Cars WHT: 11th in 2019 & ’22
A frequent visitor to Silverstone in Novembers through the KMR-partnered South African single-seater scheme, Van der Watt had a roller-coaster 2023 as a high-speed crash broke his body in multiple places and caused a collapsed lung. But he bounced back, returning to walking, cycling and then racing. Touring cars is his main on-track home so that is where he bas been busy since, but he also made the WHT final last year and plans to do so again this weekend.
#172 Robert Wolk SOUTH AFRICA Mygale SJ01
2025: Hillclimbing WHT: 8th in 2022
Wolk came eighth and 11th in the WHT in 2022 and ’23, was on a run of successive South African Touring Cars titles recently then did some hillclimbing this year.
TM Racing
#7 Felix Fisher ENGLAND Ray GR14
2025: 19th in United FFord, 21st in FFF WHT: 3rd in 2009
Fisher romped to the Castle Combe FFord title two years running, then raced in United FFord this year. He is another driver who has proven to be one of the top talents on the British scene.
#28 Tom Hawkins ENGLAND Ray GR11
2025: 4th in CCRC FFord, Super Classic FF1600 champion – Pre-’99 class, 20th in FFF WHT: 19th in 2023
#29 Ricky Simpson USA Ray GR20
2025: 14th in United FFord, NI FF1600, finalist in FFF
The American has starred in his home country’s FFord series, but has now relocated his career to Britain and picked up important mileage and experience of the racecraft over here.
#122 Vincent Jay ENGLAND Ray GR21
2025: 38th in United FFord, 5th in SC FF1600 – Pre-’99 class, semi-finalist in FFF WHT: semi-finalist in 2025 & ’23
#191 Bob Hawkins ENGLAND Van Diemen RF89
2025: 11th in CCRC FFord, semi-finalist in FFF WHT: semi-finalist in 2024
Tom and brother Bob were often battling each other on track around Castle Combe this year, and their shared knowledge helps push TM Racing forward.
Wayne Poole Racing
#24 Wayne Rushworth ENGLAND Van Diemen RF89
2025: 2nd in CCRC Saloon Cars – C class
#80 James Colborn ENGLAND Van Diemen RF07
2025: United FFord, semi-finalist in FFF WHT: semi-finalist in 2021, ’22, ’23 & ’24
#81 Sam Street ENGLAND Van Diemen RF88
2025: semi-finalist in FFF WHT: 20th in 2022
Following the 2022 Festival, Street switched from Aston Martin to F1 rival Williams… as an aerodynamics design engineer.
He’s been a senior aerodynamics engineer since 2024, not the best job for racing in FFord since the cars have no wings but a very cool one. This year his priority has been looking after his new puppy Leo.
#82 Alex Walker ENGLAND Van Diemen RF01
2025: 8th in FFF, 15th in United FFord WHT: 5th in 2024
Now 22, Walker has raced in British F4, GB4 and sportscars, but keeps on returning to FFord and was fifth in last year’s WHT. He familiarised himself with the WPR setup through United FFord in 2025.
Oldfield Motorsport
#43 Maris Schulte GERMANY Van Diemen JL13
2025: 11th in United FFord, 16th in FFF
Schulte committed to an extensive United FFord campaign this year, which he hopes to bear the fruits of at Brands Hatch. The single-seater rookie stepped up from his home country’s X30 Senior kart championships at the start of 2025.
#89 Brandon McCaughan NORTHERN IRELAND Van Diemen JL13
2025: 25th in Le Mans Cup – LMP3 class, 9th in Ligier European Series – JS P4 class WHT: 10th in 2023
McCaughan’s impressive single-seater career seemingly came to an end this year as he switched to sportscars. He did the Le Mans Cup, driving in the LMP3 class, and in the prototypes of the Ligier European Series. He has also been coaching with Oldfield all year. His last WHT outing was 2023.
#188 Nigel Thompson ENGLAND Van Diemen RF88
2025: no racing WHT: 27th in 2011
#199 Connor Willis USA Van Diemen JL13
2025: 7th in United FFord, 9th in FFF WHT: finalist in 2024
Willis had similar preparations to his team-mates, with United FFord and Heroes of FF1600 outings. He previously raced for Ammonite.
Neil Fowler Motorsport
#56 Matt Taylerson ENGLAND Van Diemen RF92
2025: no racing WHT: semi-finalist in 2006
Taylerson is the marketing director for Yamaha motorcycles, responsible for its literal British Superbike.
#125 Chris Porritt ENGLAND Titan Mk6
2025: Jochen Rindt Trophy winner WHT: semi-finalist in 2012
An engineer who loves playing around with old cars in and out of cockpit, he won the Jochen Rindt Trophy at Thruxton Retro this year and last did the WHT in 2020.
#141 Paul Unsworth ENGLAND Lola T200
2025: 18th in Historic FFord WHT: heats in 2021
#157 Jeremy Caine ENGLAND Lola T200
WHT: semi-finalist in 2024
Swift Cooper
#22 Luke Cooper ENGLAND Swift SC20
2025: CCRC FFord champion, 7th in FFF WHT: 4th in 2024
After losing out on the CCRC FFord title several years in a row, Cooper claimed the championship as his own in 2025 as he took ultimate honours around his local circuit.
#44 Paul Mason ENGLAND Swift SC94
2025: NNN WHT: Last Chance Race in 2022
#69 Alan Slater ENGLAND Nike Mk4
2025: Progression race in FFF WHT: Progression race in 2022 & ’23
This is Slater’s second outing of 2025, and his car is now 55 years old.
Ammonite Motorsport
#9 Ayrton Houk USA Ray GR18
2025: 16th in USF2000 WHT: 14th in 2023
The 22-year-old raced on IndyCar’s support bill this year in USF2000, and claimed pole for the Freedom 75 oval race.
“It’s been a tonne of fun [returning to FFord]. It’s like riding a bicycle. We got back over here Monday evening. And we were in the car on Wednesday. It’s been weird, but it’s been fun, you know. No aero, no downforce on these cars, and the tyres we run over here are a lot harder than the ones back home. So it’s been a fun adjustment.
“I feel like the biggest thing was feeling the brakes out. You can’t hit the brakes as hard because of how hard the tyres are, and it’s been raining a lot. I haven’t had a tonne of experience in the rain back over in the States, so it’s good to be back in. Andy gave me a call last week. He said he had an open seat. And we booked a flight, I got my FIA license reuploaded and did it all in about two days and got over here, so it’s been a tonne of fun.”
#42 Hugh Esterson USA Ray GR18
2025: 25th in United FFord, semi-finalist in FFF WHT: Finalist in 2023
The older brother of 2022 Festival winner and Formula 2 racer Max came fifth in the F1600 Championship Series in 2021 as a rookie and third the year after, was a finalist at the 2023 WHT, and fought for overall victory in the 2024 FFord Festival. He got more Brands Hatch mileage in via a United FFord appearance this year, and Max is in attendance supporting Hugh.
#90 Anthony Amato ENGLAND Ray GR20
2025: 5th United FFord, 14th in FFF WHT: 14th in 2024
The 21-year-old is on a constant upward trajectory as he builds experience in single-seaters. His 2025 United FFord campaign included some of his his most impressive on-track performances to date.
Auto Haeckel Motorsport
#14 Gerhard Hauschulte GERMANY Van Diemen RF91
2025: 13th in United FFord, semi-finalist in FFF WHT: LCR in 2022
Hauschulte has been busy in United FFord, and has previously driven the older RF91 car in the Castle Combe championship.
#17 Klaus-Dieter Haeckel GERMANY Van Diemen RF88
2025: 12th in United FFord, semi-finalist in FFF WHT: semi-finalist in 2019 & ’22
His team-mate and team boss has had the same programme preceding the Festival, and was the higher placed of the two in United FFord. Haeckel gets a kick out of competing against newer machinery in older cars. Liqui Moly is sponsoring his car.
GT Motorsport
#18 Jack Van der Ende THE NETHERLANDS Van Diemen RF78
2025: no racing
Last in a FFord in 1997, Van der Ende is driving the car Jan Magnussen contested the 2024 WHT in.
He has experience from the Porsche Supercup, Formula 3, Formula 3000, Formula Palmer Audi, Renault Clio Cup, The Renault Megane Trophy, but his last race was four years ago in the BMW M2 Cup. He has raced all over the world, and GT Motorsport boss Mike Gardner got in contact asking if he wanted to drive this weekend to relive his 1997 exploits when he won the British FFord title and FFord Festival.
#23 Giancarlo Kosinoga “Gardner” ENGLAND/ITALY Ray GR14
2025: no racing
This is the first ever FFord outing for the half-Italian.
Pirate M-Sports
#78 Joey Foster ENGLAND Firman RFR22
2025: 21st in United FFord, semi-finalist in FFF WHT: 2003, ’04, ’05 & ’22 winner
The pirate moniker is to do with Cornwall’s naval history, with Foster proudly having the Cornish flag on his helmet (although he confirms he is not calling for independence) and using Cornish-built engines. His team shares an awning with Don Hardman’s operation due to Foster’s long-running association with his old team boss and his desire to learn all the tricks he can about Firmans ready for the day Hardman eventually retires.
He also previously managed F2 racer Kush Maini’s career as he went up the single-seater ladder. Foster had a dramatic Festival weekend where a trackside fix led to all of the wires in his car shorting and meaninf he had to strip and rebuild back in Cornwall.
#79 Leanne McShane ENGLAND Firman RFR19
2025: karting, semi-finalist in FFF WHT: semi-finalist in 2019, ’20, ’23 & ’24
McShane attended a kart race in 2023 and Foster recommended jumping in one of his senior class karts. After competing in the local series, she then joined Pirates for the 2024 FFord Festival and with past category experience was able to make it to the final. The target this year is to make the WHT final for the first time.
Sema Racing
#21 Alex Ames ENGLAND Van Diemen RF90
WHT: 5th in 2005
Adorned in a Camel livery, and with actual Pennzoil sponsorship from a race at Spa-Francorchamps, the car Ames is driving has had a lot of success in historic competitions. He came 16th in last year’s WHT, was eighth in 2006 and fifth in 2005.
#106 Andrew Ames ENGLAND Van Diemen RF88
WHT: 14th in 2006
The team’s other car is in a Canon livery, as it appeared when Amity Racing ran Kozo Orita in 1988.
Don Hardman Racing
#2 Rick Morris ENGLAND Royale RP29
2025: 2nd in Classic FFord, 24th in FFF WHT: 24th in 2018
Morris is unstoppable. He sticks to his very old car but remains competitive. Like his team boss Don, he refuses to retire from competition, and was Classic FFord runner-up this year. He has been in FFord since 1971.
#4 Pascal Monbaron SWITZERLAND Firman RFR17
2025: no racing WHT: 21st in 2020
Monbaron has plenty of FFord experience, but this is his first time in the Firman, which has a longer frame than other brands.
Dousse Int. Sanglier
#46 Arnaud Dousse FRANCE Van Diemen RF90
2025: 3rd in Trophee FF1600 Kent, 22nd in FFF
The team boss has raced in classic FFord cars at F1 tracks across Europe, and raced at Le Mans Classic, and last weekend was his first time ever racing in the UK. He also previously raced in FR2.0 France, and has plenty of success on the French FF1600 scene.
#115 Benjamin Monteiro FRANCE Van Diemen RF90
2025: 5th in Trophee FF1600 Kent
Monteiro was fifth in the French FF1600 championship this year, and WHT testing marked his first ever visit to England. Much rain.
Enigma Motorsport
#51 Joseph Ahrens ENGLAND Royale RP26
2025: =42nd in Classic FFord WHT form: Semi-finalist in 2021 & ’24, Carl Hamer Trophy winner in ’23
#77 James Clarke ENGLAND Van Diemen RF90
2025: no racing WHT: 18th in 2023
His last time in a FFord was at Croft in 2024, as Clarke is now busy working in customs. He therefore knows all about what can and can’t go out of the track limits (or country). In 2022 he won the WHT’s Janet Cesar Memorial Trophy race for older cars.
Midland Classic Restorations
#130 Dominic Mooney ENGLAND Jamun T2
2025: Motor Racing Legends Generations Trophy WHT: semi-finalist in 2022
The team’s managing director gets mileage in many of the types of car he helps prepare for competition, and FF1600 is no different.
#173 Connor Kay ENGLAND Reynard 89FF
2025: Heroes of FF1600 Sprint Cup (wht debutant)
Shaws Motorsport
#31 Robbie Allen IRELAND Van Diemen RF79
2025: 35th in United FFord, semi-finalist in FFF
#75 Harrison Morrow ENGLAND Royale RP21
2025: 35th in United FFord, semi-finalist in FFF
Shift Point Racing
#25 Matthew Smith ENGLAND Reynard 84FF
2025: 3rd in SC FF1600 – Pre-’90 class, 36th in United FFord WHT: LCR in 2024
Smith, not to be confused with the man who played the Eleventh Doctor, has car-building experience as well as cockpit time.
#167 George Townsend ENGLAND Merlyn Mk17
2025: 11th in Historic FFord, 10th in SC FF1600 – Pre-’99 class
The WHT debutant was Historic FFord’s top novice this year, as he graduated from karting. He has just turned 18, and is driving for a family-run team actually making its racing debut this weekend. It has plans for FFord and Historic F2, is based by Silverstone and its name and logo was thought up by the team boss’s daughter who is also its media manager.
Vertical Racing
#57 Ian Campbell IRELAND Ray GR08
2025: NI FF1600, United FFord WHT: 11th in 2020
Campbell writes software for electric car batteries to improve charging speed and efficiency. This technology has not only appeared in Volvos, but also headphones. His software helps charging in battery cells, while his girlfriend (who is working on the car this weekend) is a biologist who researchs very different types of cells.
#148 David Parks IRELAND Reynard 89FF
2025: NI FF1600 WHT: Semi-finalist in 2024
Nigel Grant Motorsport
#143 Callum Grant ENGLAND Merlyn Mk20A
2025: 8th in Historic FFord, 2nd in SC FF1600 – Pre-’72 class, 15th in FFF, 21st in Historic FF2000 – Pre-’82 class WHT: 15th in 2018
One of the most competitive drivers in the field, Grant will be aiming to be the highest place driver in a pre-1992 car and finished 22nd last year.
Porter Motorsport
#50 Dave Porter ENGLAND Van Diemen RF92
2025: SC FF1600 – Pre-’99 class WHT: 19th in 2020
Simms Engineering
#19 Benn Simms ENGLAND Jomo JMR7
2024: 2nd in Historic FFord WHT form: semi-finalist in 2024
Simms has a very long history in FFord, winning the category’s Historic title in Britain in 1998, 2011 and 2014. He was runner-up in 2023 and ’25, and took the Classic FFord crown in 2024. Last year he contested the WHT with WPR and made it all the way to the semi-finals.
Simon Hadfield Motorsport
#94 Simon Hadfield ENGLAND Van Diemen RF94
2025: 18th in Classic FFord, 21st in Historic FFord WHT: semi-finalist in 2012
Simon usually runs his son or FFord stars such as Michael Moyers, but will be entering himself this weekend.
Speedsport
#98 Leon Frost ENGLAND Merlyn Mk20A
2025: 2nd in 750MC FVee
Testing was Frost’s first time in the car as he steps up from FVee. He was in karting last year, and has recently got a law qualification. No rule violations this weekend then!
Team CKM
#52 Antony Denham ENGLAND Van Diemen RF80
2025: 5th in Historic FF2000 – pre-’82 class
Team Fox Racing
#154 Lewis Fox ENGLAND Ray GR25
2025: Masters Pre-’66 Touring Cars WHT: 17th in 2021
John’s Racing Team (TM Racing)
#135 John Svensson BELGIUM Ray GR17K
2025: United FFord WHT: 10th in 2015
Svensson loves coming over to the UK to race in the WHT, and has been racing in FF1600 in various countries since 1994.
Mann Motorsport
#20 Charlie Mann ENGLAND Ray GR20
2025: 6th in United FFord, 12th in FFF WHT: 9th in 2023 & ’24
Mann’s United FFord pace through 2025 and his Festival outing shows that another top-10 finish is possible on Sunday.
Mirage Engineering
#91 Ben Turner AUSTRALIA Van Diemen RF92
2025: FF1600 in Australia
This WHT debutant says he just drinks beer and hangs out in Australia, but in reality he’s proven himself in his home country’s FFord scene and his three-person team includes Graham the wheel gun.
AF Racing
#151 Adam Fathers ENGLAND Ray GR16
2025: 16th in United FFord, 25th in FFF WHT: semi-finalist in 2021, ’22 & ’23
This year Fathers has been focused on supporting his own son’s karting exploits, but is on the pace whenever he’s back in the cockpit.
Newsome Racing
#33 Lee Newsome IRELAND Ray GR13
2025: FVee in Ireland
The 2011, ’12 and ’23 FVee Ireland champion, and 2023 Leinster Trophy winner, will be running himself while his brother joins Dolan.
Privateers
#13 John Hayes-Harlow ENGLAND Crossle 32F
2025: Heroes of FF1600 Sprint Cup WHT: Progression race in 2017
Hayes-Harlow first raced in FFord at Brands Hatch in 1976, and has competed in IMSA. His results there have included a Daytona 24 Hours podium in a silhouette car, and one of the cars he raced is now in Porsche’s museum.
“It’s 106 really good drivers, so I’ll sign off against the best,” he says of what he plans to be his racing retirement.
#48 Benn Tilley ENGLAND Van Diemen RF85
2025: 12th in Historic FF2000, Heroes of FF1600 Sprint Cup WHT: 27th in 2024
#49 Tim Fitzgerald ENGLAND Van Diemen RF89
2025: 17th in SC FF1600 – pre-’90 class WHT: Progression race in 2022
#54 Doug Crosbie ENGLAND Van Diemen RF90
WHT: 24th in 2022
#55 Luke McShane ENGLAND Crossle 45F
WHT: semi-finalist in 2024
Enigma Motorsport will be providing some support to this entry.
#58 Jamie Perry ENGLAND Crossle 40F
2025: =42nd in Classic FFord
There has been lots of testing, particularly at Anglesey in Wales, for Perry who has also raced in Classic FFord.
#62 Remy Brooks-Johnson ENGLAND Royale RP26
2025: =42nd in Classic FFord
#67 Stuart Adam ENGLAND Swift SC97
A friend of Foster from their karting days in the 1990s, Adam has worked at Le Mans and for the Haas F1 team. He will receive technical support from Pirate M-Sports this weekend.
He is an honourary pirate despite being from Somerset, and is a FFord debutant. He has an ex-Dan Wheldon car from the 1996 FFord Festival, and the WHT was on his bucket list.
#84 Gaius Ghinn ENGLAND Reynard 88FF
2025: 6th in SC FF1600 – Pre-’99 class, semi-finalist in FFF WHT: semi-finalist in 2021 & ’22
#133 Cal Bennett ENGLAND/WALES Van Diemen RF80
2025: 10th in Classic FFord WHT: LCR in 2024
The second-year car racer is on an upwards trajectory so will be aiming for the semi-finals this weekend.
#143 Jaap Blijleven THE NETHERLANDS Reynard 89FF
2025: 15th in SC FF1600 – pre-’90 class WHT: 17th in 2020
#177 Koen Baretta THE NETHERLANDS Reynard 89FF
2025: 14th in SC FF1600 – pre-’90 class
Baretta did his first four car races ever earlier this year, two of which were at Silverstone. He is mates with Jaap as they were pilots in the Dutch air force in fighter jets, then both flew for KLM.
#189 Tom Nippers WALES Van Diemen RF01
2025: 2nd in United FFord, 5th in FFF WHT: 7th in 2024
Nippers fought hard for Festival victory last weekend but was outdone by the Irish, and at the WHT he has been in the top 10 the last two years. He was a late entry to this weekend, and has been on the road a lot.
“Trying different things [in testing]. Tried a couple of things with the engine in the dry, which had interesting results but it weren’t better. We tried to make it much better at top end, but not better as bottom. So laptime slower, but top speed boost. So we’ve gone back on that change.”
While he’s very confident in the dry, his car needs “big strides forward” to be competitive in the wet.
#190 Henry Campbell IRELAND Reynard 89FF
2025: NI FF1600 WHT: Semi-finalist in 2020 & ’23
#277 Peter Hannam ENGLAND Zeus ZR163
2025: 20th in CCRC FFord, =42nd in Classic FFord WHT: LCR in 2023 & ’24