Hywel Loyd : Future F1 Rising star ?

A RISING young racing driver has been tipped for the top by the man who guided Lewis Hamilton to his first racing successes.
John Booth, of Sheffield-based Manor Motorsport, reckons 23-year-old Hywel Lloyd from Corwen can go all the way – and that means to the glamorous world of Formula One.
And he should know – Manor, the most successful team in Formula Renault, is one of the premier nurseries of F1 talent and Booth is one of the most respected figures in British motorsport.
His school numbers among its old boys modern-day motor racing greats like world champion Lewis Hamilton and his predecessor, 2007 champ Kimi Raikkonen as well as former F1 racer Antonio Pizzonia and Le Mans 24 Hours winner Guy Smith.
Recently-crowned F1 champ Hamilton was the Formula Renault UK champion in 2003 driving for Manor.
Booth took a look at Lloyd recently over two days at South Wales circuit Pembrey and was so impressed he asked him to do some work for Manor and also took him over to Valencia just before Christmas for some warm weather testing.
He said: “We were so impressed with Hywel that we have asked him back to do some R and D for us for next season.
“I don’t think next season’s Formula Three International Class will be too much of a problem for him.
“I think he has the potential to go all the way.”
The four days Lloyd and his CF Racing team spent at the Ricardo Tormo Circuit in Valencia will have cemented that impression, according to Lloyd’s father and team manager Harry who said: “We’re really grateful to Manor for giving us the chance to go over to Spain.
“It went very well for us but there was no sightseeing – just hard work with Hywel doing about 900 miles round the circuit.

“We were working from 6.30 in the morning to 10 at night and what impressed everyone was Hywel’s fitness – I didn’t think he would last four days.
John Booth agreed and said: “Hywel is an intelligent lad and has a very good understanding of a car – he actually understands what’s happening like a mechanic.”

Hywel Lloyd said: “It was great to get to Valencia. It’s a very good circuit and hopefully the work we’ve done will stand us in good stead for next season.”