John Willment

John Willment, the man whose JW Automotive team played a massive part in Ford’s famous hat-trick of Le Mans 24 Hour victories between 1967-69, died in May. He was aged 68.

Willment, who name was synonymous with bringing saloon car racing to the fore in Britain in the 1960s, ran Ford Galaxies, Cortinas and Anglias for the likes of Jack Sears, with whom he took the 1963 British Saloon Car Championship. He later joined forces with renowned team manager John Wyer and the pair enjoyed tremendous success with the Ford GT40 programme.

With a flair for design and engine development, Willment also put his name to the ‘Willment Special’ sportscars, but he might be best remembered by boy racers of that decade for his Speed Shop, one of the first suppliers of aftermorket accessories for road cars. Donations towards a planting of a memorial woodland can be sent to his daughter Brigit Locock, who can be contacted on 01625 527455.