Steve Hallam, a renowned figure in the world of motorsports, has led a distinguished career as the manager of vehicle support and team engineering for Toyota Racing Development. His passion for racing was sparked by the legendary Jim Clark's exploits in the early 1960s, and he went on to pursue his dream by studying automotive engineering at Loughborough University.
During his time at the prestigious institution, Hallam completed a six-month work experience stint at Aston Martin in Newport Pagnell, where he honed his skills and developed a deep understanding of the company's operations. Upon graduation, he joined Aston Martin as a development engineer, playing a crucial role in the development of some of the company's most iconic models over the next seven years.
In his spare time, Hallam indulged in his love of racing, modifying a Centaur Clubmans car to compete at a high level. This experience ultimately led him to conclude that, if the opportunity arose, he would pursue a career in professional racing.
Hallam's big break came when he spotted an advertisement in an engineering journal, which led to a secret job offer from Lotus boss Colin Chapman. He joined the team at the start of 1982 and spent the next three years as Nigel Mansell's race engineer. When Mansell left for Williams, Hallam was tasked with mentoring Ayrton Senna, resulting in 16 pole positions and six wins together before Senna's departure for McLaren.
Hallam's next assignment was working with Nelson Piquet in 1988 and 1989, followed by a stint with Derek Warwick in 1990. However, Team Lotus was struggling to make an impact in F1, and Hallam was approached by Neil Oatley to join McLaren. He became Gerhard Berger's engineer in 1991 and 1992, collecting three wins during their time together.
After a disappointing year with Michael Andretti, Hallam worked with Mika Hakkinen in 1994, followed by brief periods with Martin Brundle, Nigel Mansell, and Mark Blundell. He eventually found himself back with Hakkinen in 1996, taking on a leadership role as the head of all race engineering at McLaren.
In recent years, Hallam has managed Australian V8 Supercars teams, including the Holden Racing Team and Tekno Autosports, from 2012 to 2016. Throughout his illustrious career, Hallam has demonstrated a deep understanding of the technical aspects of racing, as well as an ability to develop and mentor talented drivers. His extensive experience has made him a respected figure in the world of motorsports.
