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The
Hawke DL18 on its announcement at
Le Touquet airport (hence les gendarmes).
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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. |
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The
"unofficial" Hawke F3 car.
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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
DL 14 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. |
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The
Hawke DL18 displaying its unusual
delta-plan aerofoil at the rear.
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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.
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Jan
Lammers showing the body work revisions to the DL18 and
how to blend your helmet design in with the paintwork.
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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.
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The
1978 version of the DL18.
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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.
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Drivers |
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1976 |
Rupert
Keegan, Paul Morton (DL14) |
1977 |
Jan
Lammers. |
1978 |
Paul
Morton (DL14) |
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