Sussex race ace Stiles on fast track to Formula Ford success

The 25-year-old made it a clean sweep in 2020 when he sealed the crown for the second time of his career.

His immediate success behind the wheel has even taken him by surprise.

Taking eight wins out of the 11 races he entered, Stiles won his first National FF2000 Championship in 2019, during his first full season behind the wheel of a car.

Stiles agreed it had been an exciting year.

“Last year was my first full season in anything, so to come out of it with a championship was a dream come true.

“It was nothing like I could have expected and I see it as real evidence to what can be achieved.”

Stiles also placed in Autosports top ten club drivers of the year awards (2019).

The Stiles car is a Van Deimen RF82 (1982), which holds significant heritage in racing history – being the car which has provided a stepping stone to F1 for the majority of drivers at the time.

Ayrton Senna famously won the Formula Ford 2000 championship in an RF82 before moving to F3 and then then onto the glamour of F1.

A chip off the old block, Stiles’mentality is in the blood. His father Trevor was a renowned Formula Ford driver in the 80s and 90s whose philosophy was to reduce the costs of racing and make it available to the masses, increasing the competition pool.

Today this value rings true in Stiles jnr, who is entirely self-funded and can often be found using his competitors “throw away” tyres just to afford to make it to the racetrack.

Despite low finances and a largely reduced 2020 season Stiles was back and determined to step up him game.

With high hopes from his debut season, young Stiles did an outstanding job in retaining his title, winning no fewer than six out of six races, each from pole position. But the year wasn’t without its challenges.

Explained Stiles: “We had some real tough moments this year and there were several times we found ourselves on the back foot. But you fight back, that’s racing.

“It’s not a solo effort and we have an amazing team behind us.

“This year we took on Craig Walker (the son of my father’s old engineer and right hand man, Tony). He’s been spot-on!”

Starting at Brands Hatch the 2020 season looked competitive with 36 entries taking to the famous 2.4mile circuit.

For Stiles this was a chance to start the season on a high, which he did despite a qualifying accident.

After the first double win at Brands, the team headed to Oulton Park’s Gold Cup, a circuit Stiles had little exposure to in the past.

“It was a tough learning curve, you want to jump straight to the pace of your competition but you just can’t afford to until you know the circuit,” he said.

Miraculously Stiles found his pace to take a further tricky double win of 2020.

The third and final circuit on the calendar for Stiles was Cadwell, somewhere he had always wanted to try but had yet to get the opportunity.

The Lincolnshire-based track offers an exhilarating drive, with a good mix of fast twists and turns, combined with a narrow track, with a number of blind crests.

“It is not a circuit you learn quickly. You don’t have much time to relax here.” Stiles said.

But the team once again controlled the weekend, winning both races and ending the season on a flawless high.

Outside of racing Stileslikes to use his influences to get others involved.

As well as working closely with Chestnut Tree House, a children’s hospice in Sussex, Stiles and his family can often be found welcoming charity guests trackside.

“I feel very lucky to have the opportunity to do what I do.

“Racing opens up this amazing world and atmosphere, which not many people get to experience.

“So it’s important to introduce and include whoever we can.”

Stiles’ success has of course delighted his family and friends in and around Bexhill.

He is from the town’s St Marks ward and local councillor Kathy Harmer said: “I am so proud of his achievements.”