Ian Heward
Encyclopedia
Ian Heward is a British former auto racing
driver. He is best known as entering the prestigious British Touring Car Championship
in the mid-nineties as an under-funded driver. He started racing as a rally driver in the early 80's and switched to circuit racing with three years in the British Porsche Carrera Cup from 1987 to 1989 in a 924
and 911
s. In 1990 he drove in some races in the Formula Ford 1600
and Formula Renault Championships
. He returned to racing in a Porsche 944 S2 in 1994 with the British Production Car series. This was followed by racing in some rounds of the VW Vento Challenge in 1996.
RML works 1993 Vauxhall Cavalier
with his own low-budget Promotor-Sport Team. He started his season in the third round at Brands Hatch
, but was well off the pace of his fellow Total Cup for independent racers, failing to qualify due to steering issues. He returned for round nineteen at Oulton Park
, but did not qualify for a race until round twenty-one at Thruxton, finishing the first race, but retiring with gearbox failure in round twenty-two. He would have more success on his second visit to Thruxton that year finishing 12th overall in the now historic race that saw Alain Menu
and Will Hoy
's crash in the Williams, Renault Laguna at Campbell on the opening lap. The last two championship races of the year at Donington Park saw Heward on the podium 2nd & 3rd in class and finishing the season's Total Cup in overall 5th place with 28 points. He returned to Donington Park
in October that year for the International Tourist Trophy Race
but retired due to engine failure.
Despite his problems with the car, he returned with it for eight more rounds in 1997. Still a long way off the pace, he only qualified for rounds eleven and twelve at Donington Park. He only finished in the second of these races, four laps down from race winner Alain Menu
.
Auto racing
Auto racing is a motorsport involving the racing of cars for competition. It is one of the world's most watched televised sports.-The beginning of racing:...
driver. He is best known as entering the prestigious British Touring Car Championship
British Touring Car Championship
The British Touring Car Championship is a touring car racing series held each year in the United Kingdom. The Championship was established in 1958 as the British Saloon Car Championship and has run to various rules over the years – "production cars", then FIA Group 1 or 2 in the late 1960s...
in the mid-nineties as an under-funded driver. He started racing as a rally driver in the early 80's and switched to circuit racing with three years in the British Porsche Carrera Cup from 1987 to 1989 in a 924
Porsche 924
The Porsche 924 is an automobile produced by Porsche AG of Germany from 1976 to 1988. A two-door, 2+2 coupé, the 924 replaced the 914 as the company's entry-level model, and was the model that finally retired the 912. In production terms, the 924 was the first Porsche model powered by a...
and 911
Porsche 911
The Porsche 911 is a luxury 2-door sports coupe made by Porsche AG of Stuttgart, Germany. It has a distinctive design, rear-engined and with independent rear suspension, an evolution of the swing axle on the Porsche 356. The engine was also air-cooled until the introduction of the Type 996 in 1998...
s. In 1990 he drove in some races in the Formula Ford 1600
Formula Ford 1600
Formula Ford 1600 is a number of championships which cater to 1600cc, Ford Kent powered Formula Ford racing cars. These are cars which were disbanded when the UK national Formula Ford category adopted the 1800cc Zetec engines in 1993...
and Formula Renault Championships
British Formula Renault Championship
The United Kingdom has two Formula Renault championships: Renault Sport UK's Formula Renault UK championship and the British Automobile Racing Club's BARC Formula Renault championship. Generally, the UK series is recognized as the British Formula Renault.-History:The "British Formula Renault...
. He returned to racing in a Porsche 944 S2 in 1994 with the British Production Car series. This was followed by racing in some rounds of the VW Vento Challenge in 1996.
BTCC
He first entered the British Touring Car Championship in 1996 where he campaigned a former David LesleyDavid Leslie (racing driver)
David Leslie was a racing driver. He was most associated with the British Touring Car Championship, in which he was runner-up in 1999. He was particularly noted for his development skill, helping both Honda and Nissan become BTCC race winners...
RML works 1993 Vauxhall Cavalier
Vauxhall Cavalier
The Vauxhall Cavalier is a large family car sold primarily in the UK by Vauxhall Motors, the British division of General Motors , from 1975 to 1995...
with his own low-budget Promotor-Sport Team. He started his season in the third round at Brands Hatch
Brands Hatch
Brands Hatch is a motor racing circuit near West Kingsdown in Kent, England. First used as a dirt track motorcycle circuit on farmland, it hosted 12 runnings of the British Grand Prix between 1964 and 1986 and currently holds many British and international racing events...
, but was well off the pace of his fellow Total Cup for independent racers, failing to qualify due to steering issues. He returned for round nineteen at Oulton Park
Oulton Park
Oulton Park Circuit is a motor racing track in the small village of Little Budworth, Cheshire, England. It is about from Winsford, from Chester city centre, from Northwich and from Warrington with a nearby rail connection along the Mid-Cheshire Line. It occupies much of the area which was...
, but did not qualify for a race until round twenty-one at Thruxton, finishing the first race, but retiring with gearbox failure in round twenty-two. He would have more success on his second visit to Thruxton that year finishing 12th overall in the now historic race that saw Alain Menu
Alain Menu
Alain Menu is a Swiss racing driver. He was one of the most successful touring car drivers of the 1990s, winning the prestigious British Touring Car Championship twice . He currently races for Chevrolet in the World Touring Car Championship.- BTCC :He is the son of a farmer...
and Will Hoy
Will Hoy
William Ewing Hoy , was a British racing driver and the 1991 British Touring Car Champion, the highlight of a 20-year career in motor racing. Born in Melbourn, Cambridgeshire, Hoy did not begin racing until his late 20s and first raced at international level in 1985, taking on the full World...
's crash in the Williams, Renault Laguna at Campbell on the opening lap. The last two championship races of the year at Donington Park saw Heward on the podium 2nd & 3rd in class and finishing the season's Total Cup in overall 5th place with 28 points. He returned to Donington Park
Donington Park
Donington Park is a motorsport circuit near Castle Donington in Leicestershire, England.Originally part of the Donington Hall estate, it was created as a racing circuit during the pre-war period when the German Silver Arrows were battling for the European Championship...
in October that year for the International Tourist Trophy Race
RAC Tourist Trophy
The International Tourist Trophy is an award given by the Royal Automobile Club and awarded semi-annually to the winners of a selected motor racing event each year in the United Kingdom. It was first awarded in 1905 and continues to be awarded to this day, making it the longest lasting trophy in...
but retired due to engine failure.
Despite his problems with the car, he returned with it for eight more rounds in 1997. Still a long way off the pace, he only qualified for rounds eleven and twelve at Donington Park. He only finished in the second of these races, four laps down from race winner Alain Menu
Alain Menu
Alain Menu is a Swiss racing driver. He was one of the most successful touring car drivers of the 1990s, winning the prestigious British Touring Car Championship twice . He currently races for Chevrolet in the World Touring Car Championship.- BTCC :He is the son of a farmer...
.