Event 1118 Story

Date: 2025-11-29

Harbour Navigates to Victory in Thrilling Autosolo Showdown

Sam Harbour delivered a masterclass in precision driving to claim overall victory in Sunday’s Autosolo event, piloting his Mazda MX5 to a winning time of 591.2 seconds across the two test runs.

The battle for supremacy proved exceptionally close, with Harbour establishing a slender lead after the first test with a time of 298.5 seconds. Steve Dolby, also in a Mazda MX5, kept the pressure on throughout the competition, eventually finishing just 7.7 seconds behind to secure second place overall.

“The course demanded absolute concentration from start to finish,” remarked Harbour. “With margins this tight, every cone and every braking point became crucial.”

Adam Evans completed the podium in his Mini Clubman, turning in a remarkably consistent performance to finish third overall with a combined time of 601.5 seconds. Evans also claimed the Class C victory, holding off Chris Cowles in a Mini Cooper S by nearly 13 seconds.

Perhaps the most impressive drive of the day came from Maciej Czechowicz in his diminutive Fiat 126. Despite giving away significant power to many rivals, Czechowicz’s exceptional car control saw him finish fourth overall with 602.1 seconds, just half a second behind Evans.

The Class A battle provided some of the day’s most intense competition, with Ashley Pearce ultimately prevailing in his Nissan Micra. Pearce’s combined time of 612.5 seconds placed him eighth overall and comfortably ahead of class rival Chris Bravington, who finished nearly 17 seconds adrift in his Ford Fiesta.

Liam Brotherhood dominated Class B in his Suzuki Swift Sport, establishing a commanding lead in the first test that his rivals couldn’t overcome. His final time of 634.3 seconds put him 20.9 seconds clear of Barry Mansell’s Renault Clio 172.

The MX5 contingent showed their usual strong form, with five examples of the popular roadster finishing in the top ten overall. Phil Gradwell and Matthew Morgan completed the top six in their respective MX5s, while Andy Lewin broke the Mazda stranglehold with a solid seventh place in his Toyota MR2.

Ray Simpson claimed Class D honours in his Mazda MX5, while in Class F, Suze Rogers guided her Nissan Micra to victory despite facing stiff competition from Gavin Rogers in an identical car, finishing just 12.8 seconds ahead after both tests.

The event saw a diverse field of 51 competitors tackle the challenging course, with cars ranging from the classic Ford Escort Mexico Mk1 of Phillip Blick to modern hot hatches like John Jones’ Peugeot 208 GTi.

At the halfway point, the competition remained remarkably close, with just 7.4 seconds separating the top five drivers. However, Harbour’s consistency across both tests ultimately proved decisive, as he maintained his advantage while others faltered under pressure.

The day’s action highlighted the accessibility of grassroots motorsport, with family entries including the Evans clan fielding multiple drivers, and the father-daughter pairing of Rich and Jess Mannox sharing a Toyota Yaris.

As competitors packed away at day’s end, the consensus was clear – this had been one of the most closely contested Autosolo events of the season, with Sam Harbour’s measured performance deservedly taking top honours.