Lucas Romanek takes the double win at Silverstone to win the Jim Walsh Trophy

Lucas Romanek, racing for Oldfield Motorsport bounced back from a qualifying incident to win both United Formula Ford races at Silverstone on Saturday 15th April 2023, claiming the coveted Jim Walsh Trophy in the second, and taking fastest lap in both races.

Lucas triumphed over two-time Walter Hayes Trophy winner Michael Moyers and Formula 1 Esports champion Lucas Blakeley in race one, and won the second race (Jim Walsh Trophy) ahead of Moyers and Ammonite Motorsport’s Nolan Allaer from Michigan, USA.

Romanek (19, from Swindon) was leading the qualifying session when he suffered an early blow after he collided at Woodcote with another car, with the resultant damage leaving both drivers down the order for race one. The team did a great job getting his car back out, but with limited time they had ran out of laps and Romanek could only watch his lead slip away, eventually qualifying in 11th place.

Race 1, Lucas Romanek had a great start and climbed from 10th on the grid to fifth in the first few corners before passing Lewis Fox, and then taking third away from Elliott Budzinski on lap three.

Blakeley remained ahead after defending from Romanek into Brooklands and Luffield. Romanek snatched the lead into Copse after getting a good run through Woodcote. Blakeley tried to keep with Romanek on the final lap but ran wide at Brooklands.

Race two included two safety cars. The first came as a result of a stalled car off the line and the second immediately followed the restart when Blakeley was nudged from behind by Budzinski exiting Woodcote and spun backwards into the pitwall.

The race finally resumed with four minutes remain