EX-VAN DIEMEN BOSS LEWIS TO RACE IN FESTIVAL AND WHT

Legendary Formula Ford team owner and manager Jonathan Lewis will race in the Formula Ford Festival and Walter Hayes Trophy this year.

Lewis was manager of the successful works Van Diemen team in the 1990s but has more recently raced in Mighty Minis before starring in the Masters Pre-’66 Touring Cars Championship this year.

He will drive a 1988 Reynard in the two Kent events after restoring the car.

“I bought this Reynard with a friend of mine, Ade Barwick,” said Lewis. “I restored it last winter and I tested it at the first test day at Brands Hatch this year. I was going to race it in the Champion of Brands but then a sponsor wanted me to race in historic Minis so the Reynard got shoved into a corner.

“Even when I ran the Van Diemens, I always loved the look of the Reynard and thought it was the prettiest car. It’s more of a show car and will only go up in value.”

This will be the first time Lewis has raced a single-seater for two years and the last time he regularly raced one was when he claimed the Monoposto 2000 title in 2003 and 2004.

“I always said I would do the Festival and the Walter Hayes as I’ve never done them as a driver and I’m really looking forward to it,” added Lewis. “I’m not expecting anything, I’ve got no delusions that I’ll even be on the same lap as most of them. I’m not out to get in anyone’s way.”

Ex-formula 1 driver Martin Donnelly was set join Lewis on the grid but clashing commitments mean he will be unable to get to Brands Hatch until the Sunday.

“It’s a shame and the plan was to head back, but this was booked last December so I can’t get out of it,” said Donnelly. “We will have to put it on the backburner until 2017.”