Pedzisa mutsara unotevera: Ashley akatanga kumhanya muna 1966 paakapinda kosi paJim Russell Racing School. Akanga achikurumidza asi asingadzoreki, uye nokukurumidza akawana zita remadunhurirwa rokuti "Crashley". Akasvika Formula 5000 muna 1972 uye akanga ari mutambi anotungamirira muna 1973. Akaita kutanga kwake muFormula One muna 1974, uye kwenguva pfupi akafambisa timu yeWilliams gore rakatevera. Rombo rake rakawedzera kuva rakaipa mukati mema1970 muFormula One. Aifanira kuva nyajambwa wetsaona mbiri dzakaipa pamakwara akanga asisashandiswi neFormula One nokukurumidza pashure pengozi dzake mbiri. Mukati ma1975, pa
MuGermany Grand Prix paNürburgring uko panguva yekudzidzira, akadonha zvakanyanya pachikamu chakaoma chePflanzgarten ndokutyoka makumbo ake ose, uye panguva yekudzidzira kweCanada Grand Prix paMosport Park muna 1977, akaenda pamusoro pekuputika, akatendeuka Hesketh yake, akavhara chipingamupinyi ndokupinda muchivako cheterevhizheni. Haana kuzombomhanyazve muFormula One.