The final of the Walter Hayes Trophy was a true spectacle, with four drivers battling for victory during the last lap, and their post-race reactions were as exciting as the competition itself.
Tom Mills, who is returning to compete with KMR Sport, ended up being crowned champion in a moment he described as surprising. “We have won five times without me. It has been a long drought since 2019,” commented the champion of GB4 2023. He was thrilled to finally have the opportunity to compete after four years finishing second with the team.
His decisive maneuver took place at Brooklands, where he managed to overtake Jordan Dempsey after getting him tangled up and forcing him to cover the outside. Mills expressed his confidence after completing the overtake, although he acknowledged that there had been complicated moments before.
Jordan Dempsey acknowledged Mills’ skill, highlighting that both drivers kept a clean competition, leaving “one millimeter” between them during the battles. Unfortunately, Dempsey had to retire due to car damage after a double-impact collision with Jason Smyth, with whom he disagreed about the situation.
Chris Middlehurst finished in second place after a difficult path to the final, acknowledging that he had battled intensely though he felt he was lacking power. “I lost a gear and I think I bent a valve,” he explained. Despite the difficulties, he was satisfied with his result, admiring Mills’ brilliant performance throughout the weekend.
Anthony Amato secured third place, sharing the general impression that the race had been spectacular. “It’s a shame we couldn’t be at the front,” he commented, alluding to a possible victory that slipped away from him.
On his part, Tom Nippers, who finished fourth, expressed disbelief after fighting for victory in a context that seemed almost impossible following an unfortunate Formula Ford Festival. He pointed out that the improvements made to his car paid off, as he had never felt the vehicle so good on the track.
Finally, some drivers expressed concerns about the recovery of two vehicles at Becketts during the last laps. They noted that, despite the presence of marshals, only a yellow flag was raised, which sparked a debate about safety at the critical moment of the competition.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
