EPPS ENJOYS FF1600 DEBUT AT HAYES
Ex-BTCC racer has “bug” after FF1600 debut that included climb from 23rd to first in a lap
Former British Touring Car Championship racer Mike Epps has “got the bug” after his Walter Hayes Trophy Formula Ford debut that included climbing from 23rd to first in one lap.
Epps, racing in the recent Silverstone showpiece with Border Reivers, retired from his heat with technical trouble, but in the following day’s progression race rose astonishingly from his lowly start slot to lead on lap one on his way to victory. Epps subsequently was out of luck again as last chance race contact ended his weekend.
Epps told Motorsport News: “I’ve always watched [the Hayes] with admiration. I said to myself if there was one I was going to do it would probably be that. I’ve almost got a onea-year policy now with racing because I can’t afford it anymore.
“I was joking with Jayde Kruger the night before [the progression race], he said you’ll be leading by the third corner – unfortunately it was the fourth corner! I didn’t really believe him.
“At Brooklands I just hung it inside and they all tripped over each other and I was second.
“And I thought ‘let’s put the nose in around Luffield and see, it’s gone that well’. And sure enough [the leader] lingered on the outside.
“I won’t lie, I’ve got the bug.
If I were to jump back in a race car soon I would probably make it something like a Formula Ford.”