HARVEY RETURNS TO RACING FF1600

British Touring Car Championship winner Tim Harvey will return to the wheel of a single-seater this season as he has purchased his original racing car, a Van Diemen RF81 Formula Ford 1600.

The 57-year-old raced in the category in his formative years, and he is now planning a comeback during the 2019 season.

“I loved Formula Ford,” said Harvey. “Along with karting, it is the purest form of racing that you can get and it was a launchpad for me. I started off in the Champion of Brands series in 1983 with a car that was two years old because it was all I could afford. However, I managed to finish seventh in the Formula Ford Festival in it in 1983 and that really set my career going.”

Harvey, who claimed the BTCC title in 1992 and now commentates on the category for ITV4, said he would look to take part in as many races as he can.

“I saw a Classic Formula Ford race at Donington Park last year, and thought it was amazing,” said Harvey. “I realised that the RF81 could still be competitive in it, so I hatched a plan. I knew [team boss and racer] Jonathan Lewis had bought my old car, and I got in touch with him asking him that if he ever wanted to sell it, I wanted first refusal.

“Eventually he decided to sell it to me, and he is going to run it for me. I will probably do six or so races, and I want to do the Formula Ford Festival and the Walter Hayes Trophy too.” ● Tim Harvey’s son Jamie, 30, has passed his ARDS test at Brands Hatch and will look to take part in some racing this season too. “He has done some karting and trackdays,” said Harvey Sr. “He is looking to have some fun in something like the Citroen C1 Racing Club series – maybe I could join him for one of the longer races…”