FOSTER CONFIRMED AS 2022 HAYES WINNER
Legend is four-time Walter Hayes Trophy victor after Esterson appeal fails
Joey Foster has been confirmed as a four-time Walter Hayes Trophy winner after victor-on-the-road Max Esterson’s appeal against his post-race penalty in last month’s final was rejected.
GB3 race-winner Esterson was first to the chequered flag in the final of the Silverstone event, apparently both winning his second Hayes in a row and completing a rare double win in Formula Ford’s end-of-season events, after winning the Festival two weeks previously.
But after the race Ammonite Motorsport’s Esterson got a time penalty, dropping him to fifth, because at half distance Kevin Mills Racing’s Tom
Mills was edged into the Luffield gravel when trying to pass Esterson for the lead.
The penalty meant Foster, second home in his Don Hardman Racing Firman, was promoted to be the provisional victor. Esterson and his team immediately indicated they would appeal the penalty decision at the National Court, but that appeal was rejected last week. This means Foster keeps the win, his fourth Hayes victory and his first since 2005.
Foster said on Facebook: “It’s an odd feeling, and certainly not the way a driver ever wants to win a race. However,
I’m hugely proud of our small team, an enormous amount of effort goes on behind the scenes, as well as at the circuit, and everyone who is part of our clan deserves this result immensely.
“Don, you’re a bloody legend. The cars are immaculately prepped each and every time and keep turning in circles without fault in every session with their fast Neil Bold motors.”