Date: 2025-12-07

Bridgewater Dominates Defford Autotest with Commanding Performance

Philip Bridgewater delivered a masterclass in precision driving to claim a comprehensive victory at the Defford Autotest, finishing over a minute clear of his nearest rival. Piloting his Mazda MX5 with clinical efficiency, Bridgewater established his dominance from the opening test and never relinquished his advantage throughout the four-test challenge.

The Bridgewater family enjoyed particular success across the event, with Barry Bridgewater securing third overall and a class win in his Nissan 100NX, while Andrew Bridgewater took the Class A honours in his Renault Twingo.

From the outset, Philip Bridgewater’s intent was clear, completing the first test in 81.4 seconds – a full 27.3 seconds ahead of his closest competitor, Adam Stallard in a Ford StreetKa. This pattern continued through the subsequent tests, with Bridgewater consistently extending his advantage to finish with a cumulative time of 349.2 seconds.

The battle for second place provided more drama, as the Stallard duo in their shared Ford StreetKa exchanged positions throughout the day. Adam Stallard initially held the advantage after the first test, but John Stallard moved ahead in the second test and maintained his position to claim the runner-up spot overall, despite finishing second in Class F behind his co-driver.

Barry Bridgewater delivered a composed performance in his Nissan 100NX to secure third overall and the Class B victory, maintaining a consistent pace throughout all four tests to finish nearly 20 seconds ahead of Adam Stallard.

Tony Woodcock, in another Mazda, struggled to match the pace of class rival Philip Bridgewater but maintained a solid rhythm to secure fourth overall and second in Class D.

Andrew Bridgewater, the sole competitor in Class A, persevered in his Renault Twingo to complete all tests and secure the class win, although his times suggested mechanical or technical challenges throughout the event.

The event showcased the technical demands of autotest competition, with the Mazda MX5 once again proving its credentials as an ideal platform for the discipline’s requirements of agility, precision and driver skill.

Overall Results

Overall Position	Competitor Name	Car	Time
1	Philip Bridgewater	Mazda MX5	349.2
2	Barry Bridgewater	Nissan 100NX	417.0
3	Adam Stallard	Ford StreetKa	434.1
4	John Stallard	Ford StreetKa	507.9
5	Tony Woodcock	Mazda	516.9
6	Andrew Bridgewater	Renault Twingo	960.0

Class A Results

Class Position	Competitor Name	Car	Time
1	Andrew Bridgewater	Renault Twingo	960.0

Class B Results

Class Position	Competitor Name	Car	Time
1	Barry Bridgewater	Nissan 100NX	417.0

Class D Results

Class Position	Competitor Name	Car	Time
1	Philip Bridgewater	Mazda MX5	349.2
2	Tony Woodcock	Mazda	516.9

Class F Results

Class Position	Competitor Name	Car	Time
1	Adam Stallard	Ford StreetKa	434.1
2	John Stallard	Ford StreetKa	507.9