Your Licence
Derek Hillyard sprinted and rallied in a modified Lotus Sunbeam over thirty years ago
COMING BACK Will Hillyard never lost the buzz after‘ retiring’ from motorsport at the age of 16. He studied motorsport at university then went on to work for Racelogic – and it was there where, four years ago, he was given a golden opportunity to renew his licence.
“ They wanted to do a promotion with the strapline‘ by racing drivers, for racing drivers’ so they picked out six names from a hat and put us through a year of EnduroKA racing,” he explains.“ They paid for our Novice Driver Training Course and funded the season for race entries and car costs.”
When that season – and the company funding – came to an end, Will chose to continue, signing up for a licence himself, getting some money together and taking part in selected rounds of the EnduroKA championship as part of an arrive-and-drive team.
“ The way motorsport is, you end up in a paddock talking to lots of people,” he explains.“ In that first season, we shared a garage with Pro-Am Racing and the relationship blossomed. Each year, I set my budget out, look at what I want to do and decide what I can afford.
“ Arrive-and-drive costs are more or less set, so I look at the circuits I enjoy and see how to make it work. It’ s not a case of spending every spare penny, that’ s not sustainable. I’ m not trying to make a career, just have a nice day out – but now I’ ve run out of money again …”
This time, however, Will Hillyard will not be letting his licence go dormant.“ When you look at all the other costs, licence renewal is really nothing, so I will renew it anyway,” he says.“ Now I’ m back in the paddock, you never know when the next opportunity is going to come up.”
Will’ s opportunity might actually come quicker than he thought – because his father Derek has reignited his own interest in motorsport and the pair have been talking about renewing their licences and sharing a car next season.
For Derek, it’ s a return to the sport after a break of more than 20 years. He had managed to keep going after a brief break in his children’ s early years but stopped when Will started racing and completely left the sport when that adventure came to an end 10 years ago.
Revolution Magazine
“ THE WAY MOTORSPORT IS, YOU END UP IN A PADDOCK
TALKING TO LOTS OF
PEOPLE.”
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