Date: 2025-10-19

Davidson Clinches Dramatic Victory in Thrilling Autosolo Showdown

Paul Davidson stormed to a commanding overall victory in his Seat Mii at the weekend’s Autosolo event, finishing with a total time of 285.8 seconds after six challenging tests.

What began as a straightforward lead for Davidson turned into a nail-biting contest when James Morrison’s Mini Special surged ahead after the fourth test, only for Davidson to reclaim top spot with two blistering final runs.

Davidson, who had established an early advantage with a rapid 42.9-second opening test, saw his lead evaporate mid-event as Morrison delivered a stunning performance in test three, moving to within 3.6 seconds of the leader. By test four, Morrison had completed a remarkable turnaround, taking a 9.9-second advantage into the penultimate test.

“I knew I had to dig deep after the fourth test,” Davidson told reporters. “The Mini was flying, but I managed to find something extra when it mattered most.”

And find something extra he did. Davidson’s fifth test was a masterclass in precision driving, clawing back a massive 16.6 seconds to retake the lead by 7.7 seconds. His final run was equally impressive, extending his winning margin to 16 seconds over Ross McWilliam’s Mini, which pipped Morrison’s Special by just three-tenths of a second for the runner-up position.

In the class battles, Chris Rettie dominated Class 1 in his Mazda MX5, maintaining a consistent advantage over Alan Wallace’s Skoda throughout all six tests to finish 14.8 seconds clear. The Wallace family rivalry provided an interesting subplot, with Alan ultimately outpacing daughter Amie’s Skoda Citigo by 6.9 seconds.

Class 2 witnessed perhaps the day’s most compelling contest, as Ross McWilliam and David Law traded places repeatedly. McWilliam’s Mini held the early advantage before Law’s Citroen DS3 briefly took command after test four. McWilliam responded magnificently, reclaiming the lead in test five and extending it through the final run to secure class honours by 7.2 seconds.

The Gillespie family battle in Class 3 saw Martin establish early dominance over Ronnie, both in Mazda MX5s. Martin’s consistency proved decisive as he steadily built his advantage through each test, eventually finishing 25.3 seconds ahead.

James Morrison may have narrowly missed overall victory, but his Mini Special was unchallenged in Class 4, while Gary Clark had a lonely but determined drive to Class 5 honours in his Mazda MX5.

The event showcased the enduring popularity of the MX5 platform, with five examples competing across multiple classes. However, it was Davidson’s Seat Mii that proved the day’s most effective weapon, particularly through the technical sections where its nimble handling allowed him to maintain momentum where others faltered.

As competitors gathered for the trophy presentation, there was universal praise for the challenging course design, which rewarded technical precision in the early tests before demanding raw speed and commitment in the latter stages – a combination that ultimately played to Davidson’s strengths as he secured a well-deserved victory.