Willhire 24 Hours
The Willhire 24 Hour.
In 1965 Roger Williams left his job as a salesman with the Ford distributor Mann Egerton in Bury St. Edmunds, to found his own one car rental company Willhire. The first office was in Roger’s hometown of Barton Mills.
The company under Roger William’s entrepreneurial style of management made rapid progress and soon the advertising hoardings on the edges of the area announced to the traveller that they were entering ‘Willhire country’.
Roger had a deep interest in motor racing and had attended an intensive course at the world famous Jim Russell Racing Drivers School and had also participated in racing historic cars.
Willhire acquired a reputation for sponsoring local events and eventually Roger Williams was approached by Norman Greenway regarding sponsorship of a motor racing event at Snetterton. With little interest in what he termed ‘sprint events’ Roger made a ‘serious joke’ about sponsoring a 6 or even a 24-hour event thinking that this might kill off the idea. However, Norman Greenway was not to be dissuaded and after consultation with the British Racing and Sports Car Club, the offer was accepted.
The first ever 24-hour race in Britain was to be organised.
The year was 1980.
Willhire Winners
1980 Pete Hall/Phil Dowsett/Martin Carroll/Syd Fox/Hamish Irvine/Andrew Jeffrey
2.8 Opel Commodore GS/E 955 Laps
1981 Martin Carroll/Pete Hall/Andy Rouse/Syd Fox/Phil Dowsett
Opel Commodore GS/E 990 Laps
1982 Robb Wells/Chris Alford/Malcolm Paul
3.5 Morgan Plus 8 970 Laps
1983 Tony Dron/Win Percy/Andy Rouse/Phil Dowsett
4.6 Porsche 928S 995 Laps
1984 Bill Taylor/Paul Edwards/Barry Robinson/John Lock
2.7 Porsche Carrera RS 952 Laps
1985 Roy Eaton/David Oates/John Clarke
Ford Capri 2.8i 970 Laps
1986 Mike Smith/Lionel Abbott
Ford Escort RS Turbo 965 Laps
1987 Robb Gravett/Graham Hathaway/Phil Bullman
Ford Sierra RS Cosworth 984 Laps
1988 Lionel Abbott/Graham Scarborough
Ford Sierra RS Cosworth 1025 Laps
1989 Willhire 25 Hours
Mark Hales/Slim Borgudd
Ford Sapphire Cosworth 1025 Laps
1990 Matthew Neale/Dave Wallis/Stuart McCrudden
BMW M3 896 Laps
1991 Kurt Luby/Will Hoy/Ray Bellm
BMW M3 909 Laps
1992 Mike Jordan/Steve Griffin/Graham Coomes
BMW M3 928 Laps
1993 Mike Jordan/Mike Burtt/Charlie Cox/John Morrison
BMW M3 935 Laps
1994 Nickie Torregiani/Del Delaronde/Andrew Jeffrey/James Prochowski
Ford Escort RS Cosworth 939 Laps
