Fighting Foster Takes Festival Triple

THOSE IN THE KNOW SAY THAT to win the Formula Ford Festival even once you need a combination of speed, experience, and a little bit of luck.

- Stefan Mackley

Joey Foster found he had heaps of all three as he took his third Festival win, 13 years after his last triumph, sealing it with an incredible overtaking move around the outside into Paddock Hill Bend that will live long in the memory.

The 35-year old was the man to beat of the 75 entries at Brands Hatch from the outset. He took pole for heat one and his Ray GR08 romped to victory on a damp but drying track against a field containing 2017 National Formula Ford champion Luke Williams, and current Scottish Formula Ford king Ross Martin.

Foster didn’t have everything his own way in the semi-final, though. For this encounter he started second behind the Van Diemen JL13 of Matt Cowley, on account of his win being the slowest victory of the three heats.

Foster, the 2009 Australian Formula 3 champion and ex-British GT racer, soon found himself locked in a three-car fight with Cowley and Irishman Keith Donegan, dropping to third at the midway point. But Foster proved he would be the man to beat in the final by completing two near-identical overtakes on Donegan’s Van Diemen and then Cowley on the inside of Clearways to claim victory.

It was Cliff Dempsey Racing’s Neil Maclennan who would start on pole for the final, though. And he appeared to be the only driver capable of challenging Foster, having charged through to win his semi-final from third.

A strong start from Maclennan in his Ray GR09 ensured he held fellow front-row starter Foster at bay for the initial laps, with a gaggle including Chris Middle hurst (Van Diemen), Cowley and Donegan in hot pursuit.