During the late 1960's the Formula Ford series was established as an economy race series with very strict guidelines. The first batch of cars built by Lotus Components all had to have the same 1600cc Ford engine and transmission, putting the emphasis on the driver. Formula Ford quickly became one of the most competitive racing classes, and remains that way today.

Hawke, set up by David Lazenby, a one-time manager of Lotus Components and mechanic for the legendary racing driver Jim Clark at Indianapolis, was one of the major Formula Ford producers in the late 1960's and early 1970's. He created the Hawke marque to build cars for the smaller race series (after the failure of Lotus' first excursion into Formula Ford) and they went on to win the manufacturers championship in 1972. Lazenby's first creation was the Hawke DL-1, which in 1969 became the DL-2 production car. In total, thirty five DL-2s, 2As and 2Bs were built over two seasons. The DL2B is built from a multi-tubular spaceframe, with a fiberglass cockpit cowling, undertray and a separate nose and tail.

The DL-2A sold well and the Hawke grew, until Lazenby over stretched his resources and almost went out of business. He was helped out by Mac McKinstry and Hawke recovered and built the popular DL-12, but because of the oil crisis, orders dropped and the marque was again in trouble. Mike Keegan, the head of British Air Ferries and sponsor of his son Rupert's Formula Ford efforts, bought a controlling share of Hawke and set about designing a F3 car. Again Hawke had survived but Lazenby had tired of the internal politics of the company and sold his remaining shares in 1978. Keegan did not last long after Lazenby's departure and the doors at Hawke finally shut in August 1979.

The Hawke marque is quintessential English Formula Ford and the DL 2B was its most successful championship winning car.