History - About Hillspeed

Derbyshire based Hillspeed is unquestionably one of the most professional teams in national single-seater racing having cemented its status as a genuine front-runner in Formula Renault with championship victory in the UK winter series in 2007.

However, the team’s 2008 programme isn’t restricted to Formula Renault – far from it, Hillspeed is also involved in historic Formula One and has entered into a partnership with Juno Racing to help develop a brand new UK Formula Ford single-seater chassis.

In the Formula Renault BARC Championship, the team currently fields three front-running cars for a driver line-up with a truly international flavour – Omani racer Ahmad Al Harthy, British-born Bahraini Menasheh Idafar and Briton Michael Lyons.

Hillspeed has a long history of success stretching back almost 40 years to when the team inaugurated in 1970. Forming to run Morgan Ollerenshaw in the British Saloon Car Championship, the team concentrated on saloons before deciding to move into single-seater racing during the mid-1980s.

Following the appointment of Morgan’s son, Richard Ollerenshaw, to the position of Managing Director in 1996, Hillspeed began to focus on the building, preparation and maintenance of race cars and high performance road cars.

The hunger for competition, however, ensured a speedy return to active participation in motorsport and so Hillspeed emerged as the dominant force in the ARP Formula 3 Championship. Winning more races than any other team in the series over a five year period, Hillspeed also claimed back-to-back titles in 2000 and 2001.

Now, as a race winning and championship winning team in Formula Renault, Hillspeed is looking forward to a very bright and successful future across a number of disciplines.

2008

Alongside the team's commitment to the Formula Renault BARC Championship, where it fields a three car entry for Ahmad Al Harthy, Menasheh Idafar and Michael Lyons, Hillspeed is also involved with Lancashire constructor Juno Racing regarding the development of a brand new UK Formula Ford Ford single-seater racing car.

While contemporary motorsport plays a huge part of Hillspeed's day-to-day activities, the team has now become involved with the historic Formula One scene too.

Since becoming involved with Frank Lyons Racing to help support Michael Lyons' career, Hillspeed has enjoyed podium success at Donington Park during the prestigious Derek Bell Trophy meeting and has also taken part in the renowned Grand Prix Historique at the world-famous Monaco street circuit in Monte Carlo.

2007

Hillspeed returned full-time to the British Touring Car Championship supporting Formula Renault UK series midway through the 2007 season to run a car for the reigning Formula Renault BARC Champion Richard Singleton.

Immediately on the pace of the established front-runners, the team enjoyed a string of top four, top five and sixth place finishes. Hillspeed then made headlines in the country's most competitive junior single-seater category by taking Singleton to the Formula Renault UK Winter Championship title during a tense final round at Croft.

With three drivers all having a realistic chance of championship victory, Singleton – who during the first round of the four-race series at Donington took his maiden Formula Renault UK race win – emerged on top by just three points from Riki Christodoulou.

The team also ran cars in the FR2000 Class of Formula Renault BARC for Ahmad Al Harthy and Chris Dittmann. Al Harthy continued for the winter series and achieved three class podiums en route to third in the BARC standings. He was joined by Menasheh Idafar for the Winter Championship, the 16-year-old achieving his debut class podiums.

2006

Concentrating on the Formula Renault BARC Championship, Hillspeed fielded a brace of cars in the headline FR2000 Class for James Littlejohn and Michael Broadhurst who both came of age as single-seater racers.

Littlejohn enjoyed an excellent season with victories at Croft and Pembrey, a couple of other podiums and numerous top four and top six finishes. Broadhurst, meanwhile, made his way into the top five on two occasions while also achieving several other top eight results.

2005

A change in name to Hillspeed and a re-branded image greeted the new season. Josh Weber returned to the team and was joined by the perpetually under funded, but talented Jamie Morrow. Unfortunately, Morrow's budget only lasted until round 4 of the championship where Josh Weber stormed up the field from the back of the grid to earn himself Driver of the Day Award. Ali Goss took up the vacant seat in a two race deal but was faced with appalling weather conditions. Josh Weber, disappointed with his lack of form, chose to look towards and prepare for the 2006 season and left Hillspeed.

Both seats were quickly filled by Zan Wilkinson and Joe Tanner, Wilkinson completing a deal to see him stay at Hillspeed for the remainder of the season and Tanner on a one race deal. Knockhill saw the newcomers Wilkinson and Tanner deliver the teams best performance of the season with both cars finishing just outside the top ten. Zan Wilkinson was then partnered in the last six races of the season by American Sergey Shleikin.

2004

Prior to the start of the season the Formula Renault cars received a full update kit enhancing the overall performance and appearance of the car. During this time Hill Speed Racing also took delivery of its new racecar transporter, specifically designed for the teams needs.

Stuart Gough joined the team but had to withdraw from the championship following a number of expensive accidents in pre-season testing. He was replaced with Stefan Soderberg on a two race by race deal but unfortunately Stefan could not find any further funding to continue.

The team chose to withdraw from the championship to concentrate on its relocation to its new workshop. The facility was built to the teams exact requirements with dedicated racecar preparation bays, clean assembly/test areas, along with a machine room and fabrication area. Also on site at the facility is a gymnasium for drivers attend professional fitness assessments and receive treatment during the season.

2003

With spiralling costs in the British Formula 3 Championship and instability in the ARP Formula 3 Championship over regulations, the team felt it was time to look for a new challenge.

The team decided Formula Renault offered the best structure and cost effective championship for drivers graduating to a slicks and wings car. The strict regulations rendered unlimited driver budgets useless and put the emphasis on the driver's talent and skill in communicating with the team. In March 2003 Hill Speed Racing launched its Formula Renault team.

Pre-season testing again showed Hill Speed Racing could switch cars and championships and remain totally competitive with established teams. Charles Hall carried out initial testing, followed by Wesley Godwin who was set to join the team for the season. Unfortunately, the budget was not forthcoming and the team were sidelined.

The potential of Hill Speed Racing was quickly acknowledged by John Booth of Manor Motorsport who required a team to handle the introduction of McLaren supported Chinese driver Franky Cheng to the British racing scene.

Josh Weber joined Hill Speed Racing in preparation for the winter championship. He was immediately quick and regularly inside the six during testing. Unfortunately a number of racing mistakes and incidents tarnished his overall performance in the winter series.

2002

A large financial investment in 2002 saw the team expand its operations to include the British Formula 3 Championship along with its continued involvement in the ARP Formula 3 Championship.

The lack of a permanently funded driver brought restrictions on the British F3 program but the teams results were as ever impressive and showed their potential to operate at this highly competitive level.

Seb King and Janine Payne brought their own cars to the team for the ARP Formula 3 Championship. Unfortunately a major accident early in the year put Seb out for a number of rounds, ultimately finishing eleventh after a disappointing season. Janine Payne chose to switch to a newer Dallara mid-season which involved missing certain rounds and finished sixth in the championship.

2001

Luke Stevens joined Hill Speed Racing fresh from his outings in Formula Ford and the team instantly took up where they had left off at the end of the 2000 season. A newer 1998 Dallara had been acquired to accommodate slightly larger drivers who had previously been put off by the confined cockpit of a Formula 3 car.

The second car was filled by a number of drivers during the season including Seb King and Shane Kelly. The team secured another title with Luke Stevens taking the championship and the team winning a total of 11 of the 13 races.

2000

The season saw Gino Ussi return to the team as Richard Ollerenshaw stood down as a driver to take up the position as Team Principal, allowing a second driver to join the team. Lei Kit Meng from Macau joined Gino Ussi to provide Hill Speed Racing with a very International line up for the 2000 season. The team expanded and ran a third car for Norwegian Pal Eidsvold midway through the season before Pal bought the car from the team and returned to Norway.

The combination of the Dallara, Toyota engine and Hill Speed Racing’s engineering ability proved too strong and Gino Ussi won the ARP Formula 3 Championship. Both Lei Kit Meng and Pal Eidsvold had considerable success and each racked up a number of podium finishes.

1999

The team decided investment was required to allow it to develop. In early February a 1996 Dallara was purchased in preparation for the season ahead. The teams performance and ability over the previous two seasons had not gone un-noticed and outside interest in the team had started to grow. Enquires were now being received by other drivers wanting to join the team and for the team to prepare and run their own cars.

The teams high level of technical ability was well suited to the Dallara and the car was instantly at the front of the field taking Richard Ollerenshaw to a number of wins and podium places. The team mid season felt this was the time to take a major step forward with the purchase of a second Dallara.

The second car was purchased and the ex Formula Renault and Formula 3000 driver, Italian, Gino Ussi partnered Richard Ollerenshaw in the final three races and also enjoyed immediate success with the team, visiting the podium on two occasions.

1998

The season saw the team go from strength to strength. Richard continued his steep learning curve in a Formula 3 car and the team were unlucky to finish the season just off the podium.

Hillspeed and its driver achieved a 100% finished record earning the team the Duroy Trophy and Richard the title of Best Newcomer in his first full season of racing.

1997

Hill Speed Racing and Richard Ollerenshaw made their debut in the ARP Formula 3 Championship. This series used modern cars straight from the British Formula 3 Championship. The series was well supported and highly competitive. Although this was team's first season working with its Formula 3, it proudly carried off the Newbridge Trophy for Best Prepared Car.

1996

After considering various options the team decided to purchase the ex Damon Hill / Martin Donnelley Ricoh / Celnet Ralt RT31 Formula 3 car. It was possibly one of the most successful cars in Formula 3 in the late 80's and offered the team and Richard Ollerenshaw an ideal opportunity to enter the ARP Formula 3 Championship.

However, the teams entry would not be until the following season once the car had been fully rebuilt.