Dakota Dickerson and Michai Stephens face challenges in finale of Walter Hayes Trophy.

Lady Luck was not on the side of Team USA Scholarship drivers Dakota Dickerson and Michai Stephens during the final stages of the 15th annual Walter Hayes Trophy Formula Ford extravaganza at Silverstone.

Stephens, 23, from Evanston, Ill., lined up fourth for Sunday morning’s first Semi Final, although for the first time during the past two weeks his getaway was less than stellar on the damp inside of the circuit and he lost a couple of positions on the opening lap. He made up one place by the halfway point in the 12-lap race, only to be hit from behind at Copse Corner on Lap 10. The incident forced him off the track and resulted in a painful injury to his left wrist which required a visit to the Medical Center after crossing the line in eighth position. Following an examination by the circuit doctor, Stephens was deemed unable to take up his position on the grid for the Final.

The second Semi Final saw Dickerson, 18, from San Diego, Calif., line up 10th in his sister Team USA Scholarship Ray GR15. He climbed as high as sixth during another incident-packed race before taking the checkered in seventh, despite damage to his car’s lefthand sidepod and exhaust system which required extensive “surgery” by his Cliff Dempsey Racing team prior to the 15-lap Grand Final.

Unfortunately, following Stephens’ withdrawal, Dickerson was Team USA’s only representative, lining up 13th on the 36-strong grid, and it was immediately apparent his car was not in the best of health, with him reporting that it was pulling to one side on the straights and understeering in all the right-hand corners.

Dickerson nevertheless remained on the tail of an 18-car train of cars until a series of incidents at Brooklands and Luffield resulted in the red flags being displayed after seven laps. By that stage he had risen to 13th, only to be relegated to 15th for the restart due to the grid being set according to the order at the completion of the previous lap.

Dickerson persevered after the restart, enjoying a spirited scrap with Cliff Dempsey Racing teammate Timothé Buret, a regular in this year’s Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires, before being classified 13th.