Event 1281 Story

Date: 2025-11-29

Dolby Dominates in Masterclass of Mazda Precision

Michael Dolby delivered a commanding performance to claim overall victory at this weekend’s Autosolo, piloting his Mazda MX-5 to a winning time of 289.6 seconds across the two tests.

The victory wasn’t without family rivalry, as Steve Dolby pushed his son hard throughout the competition, finishing just 2.7 seconds behind in the same model car. The Dolby dynasty’s grip on the podium was only broken by Kevin Hardwick, who claimed third place overall in another Mazda MX-5 with a time of 310.0 seconds.

In a field dominated by Mazda MX-5s, which accounted for nearly a third of the 66-car entry, the front-wheel-drive contingent put up a spirited fight. Will Herbert’s Toyota Yaris proved the best of the bunch, securing fourth overall and class D honours with a time of 309.5 seconds.

The opening test saw Steve Dolby set the early pace with 119.5 seconds, narrowly ahead of son Michael’s 121.2. Phil Gradwell also impressed with 123.6 seconds, while Mathias Hansen’s Toyota MR2 Roadster looked a potential threat in fifth with 125.4 seconds.

The second test proved decisive as Michael Dolby found another gear, overturning his father’s advantage with a blistering run. Steve maintained second place overall, but Hansen’s consistent performance in his MR2 Roadster secured him fifth overall and third in class C with a combined time of 299.6 seconds.

Class A provided some of the day’s closest competition, with Chris Bravington’s Ford Fiesta eventually prevailing on 320.7 seconds. Tim Hodgkiss pushed him all the way, finishing just two seconds behind in another Fiesta, while Maciej Czechowicz completed the podium in his diminutive Fiat 126 with 324.8 seconds.

The battle for Class B honours was equally intense, with Alex Sharpe’s Seat Ibiza claiming victory by the narrowest of margins. His 323.6-second total was just 1.2 seconds ahead of Oliver Campbell’s MX-5, demonstrating how crucial every apex and braking point proved throughout the day.

In the hotly contested Class C, the Dolby family’s dominance was clear, with Michael and Steve claiming first and second. Phil Gradwell completed the podium with a solid 300.3 seconds, ahead of Andy Lewin’s Toyota MR2 on 304.5 seconds.

Class D saw Will Herbert’s Toyota Yaris triumph over Paul Starmer’s Mini Cooper S by 2.4 seconds, with Chris Atkinson’s distinctive VW Buggy rounding out the podium places.

The event showcased remarkable family participation beyond just the Dolbys. The Hardwick clan fielded three drivers, with Kevin leading Alister and Katie, while Steve and Helen Kaye both featured in the top 15 overall. Father-daughter duo Tim and Erin Hodgkiss competed in identical Ford Fiestas, while the Kobrin family saw Peter and Teagan sharing their Citroen C1.

Despite threatening skies, the weather remained dry throughout, allowing competitors to push their cars to the limit on the challenging course. The technical layout rewarded precision and smoothness over raw power, explaining the strong showing from the well-balanced MX-5s and nimble front-wheel-drive machinery.

With just 35.2 seconds separating the top ten finishers after two tests, the event demonstrated the competitive nature of grassroots motorsport, where driver skill often trumps vehicle specification. Michael Dolby’s victory, however, was a masterclass in consistency and control, cementing his reputation as one of the discipline’s leading exponents.