Date: 2025-11-02

Mackay Masters Field with Dominant Autotest Display

Johnnie Mackay delivered a masterclass in precision driving to claim a commanding victory in Sunday’s Autotest, piloting his Peugeot 206 GTi to an impressive overall time of 239.7 seconds, nearly 18 seconds ahead of his nearest rival.

Mackay’s dominance was established from the opening test, where he clocked a blistering 32.1 seconds to immediately put daylight between himself and the chasing pack. The Peugeot driver maintained his metronomic consistency throughout all six tests, never relinquishing the lead and gradually extending his advantage.

Logan Gauld, behind the wheel of his classic Sunbeam Stiletto, claimed a well-deserved second place with a time of 257.0 seconds. Despite being outpaced by Mackay, Gauld’s performance was remarkable in its own right, as he comfortably secured the Class B victory while fending off the more modern machinery behind him.

Gordon Reid completed the podium places with his Peugeot 206 GTI, finishing just under six seconds behind Gauld with a time of 262.9 seconds. Reid found himself engaged in a tight battle with Ian Gough’s Ford Fiesta, ultimately prevailing by a mere 2.4 seconds after the six tests.

The Class C battle proved to be the most competitive of the day, with Mackay’s dominant overall victory also securing him the class win. Behind him, Reid, Gough and Rhys (also in a Peugeot 206 GTI) were separated by just 14.8 seconds after the full complement of tests.

In Class B, Logan Gauld established an early lead over fellow Sunbeam Stiletto driver Lathan Gauld, opening up an 8.3-second advantage after the first test. This gap would only widen as the day progressed, with Logan eventually finishing 26.4 seconds clear to secure class honours.

Perhaps the most intriguing battle unfolded in Class A, where William Orr’s unusual choice of a Ford Fiesta Pickup eventually paid dividends. Despite trailing Daniel Rae’s Ford Fiesta early on, Orr managed to overtake him by the fifth test, ultimately securing the class win with a time of 502.6 seconds, just 5.3 seconds ahead of Rae.

The event demonstrated the importance of consistency across all tests, with Mackay’s performance setting the benchmark. His opening test advantage of 8.1 seconds over Gordon Reid laid the foundation for his victory, and his ability to maintain focus throughout the remaining five tests ensured his lead was never threatened.

As the competitors navigated the technical course, it became clear that vehicle choice played a significant role in the day’s proceedings. The Peugeot 206 GTi proved to be the weapon of choice for those seeking outright pace, while the classic Sunbeam Stilettos showed that vintage machinery could still be competitive in the right hands.

The day’s competition highlighted the accessibility of Autotesting as a motorsport discipline, with a diverse range of vehicles from modern hot hatches to classic cars and even a pickup truck all proving competitive in their respective classes.