Willem Toet – Aerodynamicist and hillclimber

A great video from Willem Toet made during 2005 when he competed in the British Hillclimb Championship. He finished the season runner up to Champion, Martin Groves. These five runs from Harewood - setting the first sub 50s record – Shelsley Walsh, Prescott, Val des Terres and Wiscombe Park, show speed hillclimbing at its finest. You not only have to be very fast, but drive with absolute precision – no run off areas here – a fraction out on your line and its going to be an expensive accident!

The car is a Pilbeam MP88 fitted with a 4.0 Litre Ex F1 Judd. The Judd was an ex Leyton House 3.5 V8 bored out to 4 litres. Willem thought it was the best engine in British hillclimbing, at the time pushing out 650hp and highly tractable.

Mike Pilbeam’s cars had dominated the British hillclimb scene for 20 years up to 1997 – but there was a new chassis making a bid for first place – the eponymous cars of David Gould. The 1998 title was won by David Grace in a Gould Ralt GR37....and Gould chassis have pretty much dominated ever since. Martin Groves won his maiden title in 2005 in a Gould GR55B NME, and again in 2006 and 2007. His final Championship coming in 2010. Scott Moran has won 6 Championships in a Gould GR61X NME.

The 2019 Champion, Wallace Menzies, won in a Gould GR59M/3.3 Litre Cosworth XD. The upcoming season will see Wallace try and defend his crown from David Gould’s son, Sean, also in a GR59J, but his with a 4 Litre Judd DB4. It will be a cracker of a season in 2021.

Not only is Australian Willem a very fast driver, he is a highly respected engineer and was much in demand in F1. He was chief aerodynamicist at Toleman/Benetton; Ferrari, BAT/Honda; BMW Sauber. Opting for a quieter life now, he carries out a consultancy role for Bill Chaplin’s Empire marque – manufacturer's of bespoke single seater race cars for hillclimbing.

Sit back and enjoy a master class.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvBGUtJNQP8