An old hand, a fresh pair of eyes.
Before the THR years
Miles Hartley came to community racing with the instincts of a mechanic and the patience of someone who had spent far too many evenings chasing a mysterious rattle. Born in Sheffield in 1964, he grew up around workshop benches, dog-eared motorsport magazines and Sunday afternoons spent arguing about which driver had earned the right to the next corner.
His racing home was Tarnhorn Racing, the community that preceded THR. From 2003 to 2016, Miles became a familiar figure in its touring-car, historic GT and classic single-seater grids. He was rarely the loudest voice in the paddock. He was usually the one who had noticed the changing grip, saved a little tyre life and quietly worked his way into contention.
The long way round
His first title came in club touring cars in 2007. Historic GT success followed in 2010, a classic single-seater title in 2012 and an endurance trophy with his regular teammates in 2015. Across fourteen seasons, his fictional record stands at 148 starts, 18 victories, 49 podiums and 12 pole positions. Miles remembers the hard-fought third places at least as fondly as the wins.
His favourite story begins with a wet race at Brands Hatch, an early spin and a stubborn refusal to give up. He recovered to a podium by finding traction where everyone else was looking for speed. Ask him about it and he will explain the corner exits first, then admit that his pit crew had also supplied an exceptionally strong cup of tea.
A racer in the commentary box
Miles stepped away from regular competition at the end of 2016. These days he lends that old driver's perspective to THR's AI race commentary: why a driver leaves a gap, when an attack is worth the risk and how a small mistake can grow into a difficult lap. He enjoys explaining the human decisions behind the timing screen.
Expect a soft spot for the Lotus 49, compact touring cars and circuits that reward commitment. Expect dry humour when the racing gets untidy, sympathy for the driver who has just thrown away a good result and genuine delight when somebody makes a patient, beautifully judged move. He always recommends using the first lap out of the pits to warm the tyres and brakes before pushing for a quick lap.