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Will Hoy, 1952 - 2002
1991 BTCC champion dies after short illness
Will Hoy: 1952 - 2002
Hoy (leading) won the BTCC in 1991
Former British Touring Car champion Will Hoy passed away in a London hospital on Thursday evening after a short battle against illness. He was 50.
Born in 1952, Hoy only began racing at the age of 30 (although he had raced karts in the '60s) but quickly forged himself an impressive reputation as a sportscar driver. A fully qualified chartered surveyor, he began in Clubmans racing and quickly rose through the ranks of Sports 2000 and Thundersports.
His racing career took off in Japan during the mid '80s, where he successfully raced in its Group C sportscar series and also its touring car championship for five years. On his fulltime return to the British scene in 1991, he dominated the early rounds of the BTCC in a Vic Lee-run BMW M3 that laid the foundation for his title success that year.
He finished runner-up a year later for Toyota, just losing out to Tim Harvey in the legendary all-action finale at Silverstone, and continued in the BTCC driving for the works Renault and Ford squads. To prove his all-round skills, Hoy won the made-for-TV Silverstone Rallysprint in 1998. He contested more than 150 BTCC rounds between 1989 and 1999, winning nine races in total.
More recently Will had worked as a TV presenter, providing expert analysis to ITV's coverage of the 2002 BTCC. He was also an integral part of the Arena-run Honda BTCC campaign this year until his illness took hold.
A private family funeral is planned before Christmas, and a Memorial Service will be held early in the New Year at a date and venue to be announced.
1991 BTCC champion dies after short illness
Will Hoy: 1952 - 2002
Hoy (leading) won the BTCC in 1991
Former British Touring Car champion Will Hoy passed away in a London hospital on Thursday evening after a short battle against illness. He was 50.
Born in 1952, Hoy only began racing at the age of 30 (although he had raced karts in the '60s) but quickly forged himself an impressive reputation as a sportscar driver. A fully qualified chartered surveyor, he began in Clubmans racing and quickly rose through the ranks of Sports 2000 and Thundersports.
His racing career took off in Japan during the mid '80s, where he successfully raced in its Group C sportscar series and also its touring car championship for five years. On his fulltime return to the British scene in 1991, he dominated the early rounds of the BTCC in a Vic Lee-run BMW M3 that laid the foundation for his title success that year.
He finished runner-up a year later for Toyota, just losing out to Tim Harvey in the legendary all-action finale at Silverstone, and continued in the BTCC driving for the works Renault and Ford squads. To prove his all-round skills, Hoy won the made-for-TV Silverstone Rallysprint in 1998. He contested more than 150 BTCC rounds between 1989 and 1999, winning nine races in total.
More recently Will had worked as a TV presenter, providing expert analysis to ITV's coverage of the 2002 BTCC. He was also an integral part of the Arena-run Honda BTCC campaign this year until his illness took hold.
A private family funeral is planned before Christmas, and a Memorial Service will be held early in the New Year at a date and venue to be announced.
