MICHELLE
HAYWARD
Michelle Hayward, the 'Michmissile' Clubmans racing driver from Wrexham becomes the 2022 CSP2 Champion.
2023 IS SET TO BE AN EXCITING YEAR
How does a CSP1 car compare to a CSP2 car?? Click here to watch a video that explains all….
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The first round of the 2023 Championship at Silverstone was a packed grid of 35 cars, 13 of which were the CSP1 200 hp class.
Michelle was third quickest on slicks in qualifying, which resulted on P7, wet tyres being the faster choice.
After surviving her worst nightmare (stalling on the grid) she made a tremendous comeback through the field to get back to P5.
Race 2 gearbox gremlins hampered further progress, which later proved to be clutch issues. Just before the start of race 3 Michelle couldn’t get a gear, so started from the pit lane one lap down.
Looking forward to the next round of Anglesey now to continue pushing forwards.
On 29th October 2022 Michelle competed for the first time in the 200hp CSP1 class. Driving Tom Commander’s recently upgraded Phantom P79. With chief mechanic Ed Preston and Phantom’s original creator Chris Greville-Smith by her side she showed great pace and topped the time sheets in the damp morning warm up qualifying P5 on the grid. As the track dried a mis-firing engine left Michelle powerless to the attacks on the back straight.
A major winter rebuild of both car and engine are now underway in readiness for the upcoming 2023 season.
After a catastrophic failure of the exhaust manifold in qualifying, it looked like a disaster for Michelle for her Championship title hopes. The team were up against the clock, but a formidable team effort and expert welding skills from Paul Freeman got her back on track just in time to race. Securing two second places and a race victory she is crowned CSP2 Champion 2022.
With Barry Webb away on holiday, rather than stand on the sidelines, Michelle went on the hunt for a race drive.
Roger Watton kindly agreed to stand down and race his CSPB car instead so that Michelle could compete at Oulton in his CSP2 Clubmans Mallock Mk20/21.
With a shakedown test at Castle Combe and a test session at Oulton, Michelle managed to get the car qualified on the Class pole, half a second off the lap record. She went on to achieve 2 second places behind the fast starting Morris Hart, unable to launch an attack after the brakes faded in the freakish 30C heat. Mat suffered an air lock in the fuel line and retired in race 2, extending Michelle’s lead in the Championship.
Michelle and the all ladies GT Radial team made history at Snetterton on 23rd July, as the first ever all-female team to compete in the incredibly competitive UK Funcup Endurance Championship.
“The grid is chosen at random, so when the draw put us on the pole position I couldn’t believe it. Funcup use rolling starts, which is different to Clubmans, plus many teams use their pro drivers in the first and last stints. With these guys having raced these cars all year, the pressure was really on for me not to mess it up.”
“We were really pleased with P9, first time racing with each other, and it was incredible fun. Grateful thanks to GT Radial for funding a superb weekend.”
Read full post here
Michelle was absolutely flying at Snetterton putting her no.84 Mallock Mk23 on the class pole by nearly a second. Mathieu Gauthier-Thornton seized an opportunity to make a move around the outside in race 1 and Michelle had to defend position for the majority of the race from Tom Bellamy whilst trying to launch an attack for the lead. It was a great race. “I thought I had it done going under the bridge into the Brundle-Nelson chicane, turned in, only to feel Mat’s car coming at the side of me. We were very lucky to not make contact. I had to settle for 2nd, but I knew there was a lot more pace in me and the car.”
On the Sunday, Michelle made great starts in both races and held onto the back of the CSP1 pack. She gradually pulled away from her competition, and took a second off the class lap record.
View post here: Clubmans – Snetterton – 11/12 June 2022 – Michmissile Racing
View PDF Results of the weekend, and watch all the race videos online here.
Michelle put in a great lap to qualify on the class pole at the Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit, P7 out of 27, amongst the higher powered CSP1 cars and 3 grid slots ahead of her closest competitor Mathieu Gauthier-Thornton. With a good start she held onto the CSP1’s for the majority of the race. Gauthier-Thornton chased hard after passing Pete Richings but was denied an opportunity to attack in the dying laps as backmarkers came into play and Michelle took the first victory of the weekend.
Race 2 Gauthier-Thornton started ahead in P8, with Michelle in P11, and Bellamy in P14. Bellamy made a late lunge to the inside of Graham Hill demoting Michelle to third in class. Seeing Mathieu disappearing up the road, she had to make a brave move around the outside of Bellamy at Clearways after dropping a wheel in the gravel the lap before. Thereafter she set about hunting down Mat to take the chequered flag and her second victory of the weekend.
Read more: http://michmissile.co.uk/clubmans-brands-hatch-gp-2022/
After qualifying on the class pole Michelle was slow off the line in Race 1 dropping to 4th in class behind a fast starting Paul Freeman, Tom Bellamy and Morris Hart. Putting in an early brave attack around the outside of Brooklands which successfully elevated her to 2nd, Michelle proceeded to have an absolutely epic battle all race long with Tom Bellamy, who defended the class lead emphatically. Click the onboard video of Michelle Hayward Clubmans Silverstone 2022 Race 1 to watch.
Sunday proved a little easier for Michelle, after making good starts in both races, she got into the lead from the offset and didn’t look back. Read: http://michmissile.co.uk/clubmans-silverstone-2022-michelle-hayward/
After qualifying on the class pole a wheel bearing failure and the resulting DNF meant Michelle Hayward had to start from the back of the grid on the Sunday. It was an incredible race to watch with great overtaking throughout the field. The Race Tv coverage picked up Michelle, car 84, as she proceeded to steadily pick off her competitors one by one, but unfortunately missed the final high speed lunge overtake on Morris Hart at Macleans to take a well earned class win on the last lap. Round 3 she started P6 overall, amongst the higher powered CSP1 cars and in the class pole position, with Hart and Gauthier-Thornton alongside. Hart got away quicker of the two, but Michelle made a decisive overtake early on and proceeded to pull away from the field to take her second win of the day. Read: http://michmissile.co.uk/clubmans-donington-park-2022/
In 2018, Michelle Hayward, known on track as the ‘Michmissile’, dominated the time sheets and won her first ever Championship in Clubmans Sports car racing. Narrowly missing out on another championship victory in 2020 due to downpours that cancelled the final race meeting Michelle returned with great determination in 2021 to re-take the CSP2 title.
This year is set to be a fiercely competitive Clubmans season with full grids. Michelle has the opportunity to drive the red and white Mallock Mk23, owned and prepared by multiple Championship winning Clubmans racer Barry Webb, and she hopes to be able to rise to the top step once again. Can she defend her 2021 Championship title and bring the triple crown back home to Wrexham?
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NEXT EVENT
2nd Round - Anglesey - 20/21 May (4 races)
Set on the west coast of Anglesey, overlooking the Irish Sea and the Snowdonia mountain range beyond, Anglesey Trac Mon provides visitors with a challenging and exciting circuit in a breathtaking location.
Many drivers will be new to this fast and technical track, where weather always likes to play its part, but Michelle has enjoyed Funcup racing here and a very memorable time competing in a turbo-charged Caddy van for the Race of Remembrance. Clubmans have four races here, so plenty of time to get to grips with the track. With a big BBQ planned for their festival weekend it will be a whole lot of fun.
LIVE RACES - FILMED BY MSVR / RACETV
Many of our races are broadcast live on Youtube. You can still view the footage by clicking on the image above. Keep up to date with our Clubmans CSP Youtube channel or the Clubmans Register Facebook page. Links below.
Advertise and promote your brand.
Fast, female racing driver, stunning race car. Get your company logo on the car and transportation trailer for 2023. UK brand exposure.
Photos and live video streaming, great social media content to share with your network from a number of different platforms including MSV TV, Race TV and Clubmans Youtube and Facebook channels.
Invite your guests, enjoy the racing and have a fun weekend social with us.
Click here to connect with Michelle and find out how you can get involved….
CLUBMANS CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS
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THE CLUBMANS SPORTS PROTOTYPE CHAMPIONSHIP
Michelle and Morris had an almighty battle at Croft in August 2021
What are Clubmans cars?
Clubmans cars have a long-standing history. A unique and distinctive formula of front-engined, rear wheel drive sports cars. With lightweight and aerodynamic bodywork, slicks and wings these cars are incredibly fast, capable of achieving Formula 3 lap times on a fraction of the budget. Click here to watch a video that explains all….
How do Clubmans cars compare in lap time?
Top 10 Fastest Lap Times around Silverstone National Circuit:
JAMES CLARKE (CSP1) – 0:55.49
#1 McLaren P1 – 0:58.24
#2 Porsche 918 Spyder – 0:58.47
#3 Ferrari LaFerrari – 0:58.58
#4 Porsche 911 GT3 RS (991) – 0:60.00
MICHELLE HAYWARD (CSP2) – 0:60.00
#5 Porsche Cayman GT4 (981) – 1:03.20
#6 Ascari KZ1 – 1:05.20
#7 Caterham Superlight R – 1:06.26
#8 Ferrari F430 – 1:07.10
The Clubmans Register and MSVR
The Clubmans Register promote the formula and organise the race events with MSV Racing. Many of the races sit alongside the GT Cup events and attract big crowds. The move from the BARC to MSV a few years ago has sparked new interest and promotion and the formula continues to grow in grid numbers and competition.
Michelle Hayward from Wrexham is a triple Champion
Michelle won 10 races, took 5 out of 6 pole positions and claimed 13 out of a possible 17 fastest laps during the 2022 season, successfully defending her CSP2 title. She now hopes to step up to the higher powered CSP1 class and take on the fastest Clubmans drivers.
Michelle becomes 2021 Clubmans Champion
In 2021, Michelle competed in a 1979 Mallock Mk23, owned and prepared by multiple Clubmans Championship winner Barry Webb. In stunning red and white livery, the CSP2 car proved to be both reliable and very quick in her hands.
Michelle took 5 out of 7 pole positions and claimed 12 out of a possible 18 fastest laps, including 3 new lap records. This combination of outright pace and consistency helped Michelle clinch the CSP2 Championship title once again with 8 race wins. She hopes to be able to raise sufficient budget to be able to defend her title and bring the triple crown back home to Wrexham.
"The 2021 Clubmans season was a really great year, but it ended with Mathieu beating me at the final round at Donington Park. I was ready for a tough fight to defend my title in 2022, but I did it, and I am so proud to win my third Championship. I loved every minute of driving Barry Webb's Mallock Mk23, but I am ready to take on the new challenge of CSP1 - more power, 5-6 seconds a lap quicker, greater competition.."
Michelle, February 2023
Photography: Special thanks to Joy Richings
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THE FUNCUP CHAMPIONSHIP
MICHELLE HAYWARD TAKES THE CHEQUERED FLAG FOR VICTORY IN PORTIMAO
When Michelle met Chris Webster at Brands Hatch in 2015, whilst competing in her Mallock Mk27, she would never have envisaged that a few years later she would be firing champagne from the podium at Portimao in Portugal.
Michelle and her mechanic Mikey were first to the flag in the Funcup night race at Portimao, Oct 2017.
Michelle Hayward had two incredible years racing in the UK Funcup Endurance Championship. She competed in the prestigious Spa-25hr race in Belgium, with team mates Chris Webster and James Harrison, joined by guest drivers Jade Edwards and Dennis Strandberg. Out of 11 UK teams, they finished 2nd in class and made it onto the Spa-Francorchamps podium.
What is FunCup?
Fun Cup was originally conceived in mainland Europe in 1997, and it has since spread through most major European countries. With an incredible 160 identical cars starting the Spa 25 hour race in Belgium, it is the most successful one make endurance championship in the world.
These distinctive ‘Herbie cars’ are race-designed using a unique and extremely strong space frame chassis, with a Beetle silhouette GRP bodywork. The cars are ultra tough and can withstand a huge amount of racing. You benefit from the slipstream effect which keeps the racing immensely close and competitive. It may be called endurance racing but in reality it is an all out sprint from start to finish.
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