Date: 2025-10-12

Nolan Clinches Victory in Thrilling Autosolo Showdown

John Nolan emerged victorious in a nail-biting contest, piloting his Toyota Starlet to overall honours with a commanding time of 538.6 seconds across the three tests.

The battle for supremacy was fiercely contested throughout the day, with Nolan overcoming an initial deficit to Philip O’Reilly, who had set the early pace in the opening test. O’Reilly’s Starlet initially led with a time of 173.2 seconds, but Nolan’s consistency proved decisive as he moved ahead after the second test and never relinquished his advantage.

O’Reilly ultimately settled for second place overall, finishing 9.2 seconds behind Nolan with a total time of 547.8 seconds. Brian Kingston rounded out the podium positions in his Suzuki Ignis Sport, claiming third overall with 555.7 seconds while simultaneously securing the Class 1 honours.

The day’s competition revealed itself as a tale of two halves, with the leaderboard experiencing significant shifts between tests. After the opening test, just 5.5 seconds separated the top five drivers, setting the stage for a thrilling contest. Nolan’s masterclass in precision driving saw him establish a joint lead with Kingston after the second test, both recording identical cumulative times of 353.9 seconds.

The final test proved decisive, with Nolan finding another gear to pull clear of his rivals. His performance in the closing stages demonstrated remarkable composure under pressure, extending his advantage over O’Reilly to secure a well-deserved victory.

In Class 1, Kingston dominated proceedings from start to finish, establishing a commanding 30-second lead over Damien Phillips’ Toyota Starlet after the first test. This advantage extended to nearly 48 seconds by the conclusion, with Leo Nulty completing the class podium a further 76 seconds adrift.

Class 2 witnessed the event’s most compelling battle, with Nolan and O’Reilly trading fastest times throughout. Andrew O’Donohoe put in a spirited performance in his distinctive VW Beach Buggy to claim third in class, despite facing stiff competition from Graeme Hade’s Starlet.

The Toyota Starlet proved to be the weapon of choice for most competitors, with no fewer than eleven examples taking part. However, the variety was provided by Kingston and Brian Casey in their Suzuki Ignis Sports, the O’Donohoe family’s Beach Buggy and MG Midget, and Garrett Kennedy’s Mazda MX5.

Kennedy’s performance in the MX5 was particularly noteworthy, securing sixth overall despite competing against the more nimble Starlets that dominated the entry list. His consistent driving across all three tests demonstrated the potential of the larger sports car in the tight confines of the autosolo course.

The ladies’ contingent was represented by Michelle Curran and Deirdre Doyle, both in Toyota Starlets, with Curran edging the intra-gender battle by just 1.7 seconds after three challenging tests.

As the dust settled on an enthralling day of motorsport, it was Nolan’s metronomic consistency that ultimately proved the difference, cementing his reputation as one of the discipline’s most accomplished practitioners.