Ramba uchinyora ndima iyi - 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 panzira dzakanga dzisingachashandiswi neFormula One nokukurumidza pashure pengozi dzake mbiri. Muna 1975, paGermany Grand Prix
paNürburgring apo panguva yokurovedza, akadonha zvakakomba pachikamu chakaoma chePflanzgarten ndokutyoka makumbo ake ose, uye panguva yokurovedza yeCanada Grand Prix paMosport Park muna 1977, akaenda pamusoro pechipingamupinyi, akatendeuka Hesketh yake, akakwidza chipingamupinyi ndokupinda muchivako cheterevhizheni. Haana kuzombomhanyazve muFormula One.