Date: 2025-09-28

Conner Dominates Autosolo with Masterclass in MX5 Control

Steve Conner produced a commanding performance to claim overall victory in Sunday’s Autosolo event, finishing nearly a minute ahead of his closest rival with a total time of 316.7 seconds across four tests.

Conner’s Mazda MX5 was in a class of its own from the outset, setting a blistering pace of 84.9 seconds on the first test to establish an early lead that would never be threatened. His consistency throughout the day was remarkable, maintaining a substantial advantage through all four tests to secure a comprehensive victory.

Matt Ore, also in a Mazda MX5, claimed second place overall with 370.3 seconds, but never looked likely to challenge Conner’s supremacy. Christopher Newton completed an all-MX5 podium with a time of 339.1 seconds after a solid day’s driving.

The battle for class honours provided much of the day’s drama, with Andy Laurence’s Renault Clio narrowly edging Daniel Walker’s identical machine by just 4.1 seconds to claim the Class B win. Laurence had set the early pace with an impressive 89.8 seconds on the first test, but Walker kept the pressure on throughout, ensuring the contest remained tight until the final run.

In Class C, Alex Ball’s Mini Cooper S prevailed with a time of 354.6 seconds, holding off a determined challenge from Monty Taylor’s Mini, which finished 11.2 seconds behind. Ball’s smooth, consistent driving style proved decisive as he maintained his advantage across all four tests.

Trevor Craze delivered a masterclass in Mini handling to secure the Class A victory with 373.6 seconds, comfortably ahead of Tom Woodward’s spirited effort in the diminutive Fiat 126, which finished 9 seconds adrift.

The Class F contest saw Matt Ore’s MX5 dominate proceedings, finishing nearly 11 seconds ahead of Katie Bruce’s Ford Fiesta. Bruce had shown promising pace throughout the day but couldn’t quite match Ore’s consistency across the four tests.

One of the day’s most impressive performances came from the Laurence family, with Andy, Archie and Immy all competing in Renault Clios. While Andy secured class honours, 16-year-old Archie demonstrated remarkable car control to finish third in class, tying with Finn Walker on 357.0 seconds.

The Bruce sisters also impressed, with Katie and Emma piloting their Ford Fiestas to second and fourth respectively in Class F, separated by Alex Porter’s Toyota MR2 in third.

The event’s technical layout rewarded precision and smoothness rather than outright power, with the nimble MX5s proving particularly well-suited to the challenges. Conner’s victory was built on exceptional car control and a measured approach that minimised errors while maintaining impressive pace.

As competitors reflected on the day’s action, many praised the challenging course design that tested driver skill rather than vehicle performance, creating close competition across all classes despite the varied machinery on display.