Hawke

Hawke Racing Cars was set up in 1969 by ex Lotus Components manager David Lazenby to produce cars for Formula Ford and later FF2000, an early success was the '69 Scottish Formula Ford Championship for one Tom Walkinshaw. Throughout most of the 70s Hawke produced a number successful cars especially the DL15 that helped establish Derek Warwick's reputation. In 1974 Mike Keegan, father of Rupert Keegan and owner of British Air Ferries, took a controlling interest in the company and grandiose plans that included an Adrian Reynard designed F1 and F3 cars were announced. Although the F1 car did not appear the F3 car did, however following problems with the F3 car and with the F Ford cars becoming less successful Hawke disappeared from the scene at the end of the 70s.

At the end of 1975 an advert appeared in Autosport from Ken Silverstone for a "Hawke F3", Silverstone competed for several years at the rear end of F3 grids in a variety of cars and this is a Hawke DL14 FF2000 chassis that has had a 2-litre Ford twin-cam dropped in the rear. Silverstone did manage a 4th place out of 5 finishers in the opening race of the season, it appeared a few times in other hands in later years.

Designed by Adrian Reynard, the DL18 had a full monocoque tub in L72 aluminium with a high tensile roll cage to F1 standards. Suspension is rising rate and was inboard at the front, a twin brake pedal (a la the Lotus 76) was also fitted. The most unusual feature was the delta shaped rear wing. Various problems with the car meant that Rupert Keegan was never happy with it and it only raced once in the year.

For 1977 Pat Symonds carried out revamp of the car including fitting a conventional rear wing, removing the engine cover and fitting a new cockpit surround. Despite the best efforts of Jan Lammers in the European Championship the car was still none too competitive.

This car was displayed at the January 1978 Donington Speed Show, the board in the background says it is still a DL18 so presumably it was another revamp with new bodywork. It would appear that the car never raced and the Hawke name vanished from the racing scene.