Event 1297 Story

Date: 2025-11-29

Conner Clinches Nail-Biting Victory in Thrilling Autosolo Showdown

Steve Conner emerged triumphant in a day of intense competition, piloting his Mazda MX5 to overall victory by the narrowest of margins. Conner’s winning time of 286.2 seconds was just 2.2 seconds ahead of Shane Parry’s Ford Puma after four challenging tests.

The battle for supremacy began from the very first test, with Conner establishing a slender 0.8-second advantage over Parry. Dave Hall’s Vauxhall Chevette rounded out the early top three, setting the stage for what would become a day-long tussle between these front-runners.

By the halfway point, Conner’s lead had shrunk to a mere 0.2 seconds, with Parry breathing down his neck. Hall maintained his third position but found himself drifting further back, now 3.9 seconds off the pace.

“The pressure was immense throughout,” Conner admitted afterwards. “Shane never gave me a moment’s rest, and I knew any mistake would cost me the win.”

As the competition progressed to the third test, Conner managed to extend his advantage slightly to 1.9 seconds, demonstrating remarkable consistency despite the mounting pressure. The final test saw both drivers pushing their machines to the limit, with Conner ultimately preserving his lead to secure the overall win.

In Class A, Andrew Bridgewater dominated in his Renault Twingo, finishing a commanding 43.2 seconds ahead of Richard Banks in an MG ZR. Bridgewater’s impressive performance also earned him fifth overall, showcasing the potential of the nimble French hatchback.

Class B provided some of the day’s most compelling family rivalry, with the Laurence clan fielding three entries. David Fooks ultimately prevailed in his Ford Puma, but Andy Laurence’s Renault Clio pushed him hard, finishing just 5.6 seconds behind. Andy’s son Archie completed the family’s strong showing with third in class.

The Class D battle mirrored the overall standings, with Conner’s MX5 proving unbeatable. Richard Murphy put in a valiant effort in his Toyota MR2 but couldn’t match Conner’s pace, finishing 29.7 seconds adrift.

Dave Hall may have missed out on the overall win, but his third-place finish was complemented by a dominant Class E victory. His Vauxhall Chevette finished nearly 39 seconds ahead of Peter Norris’s classic Morgan.

Perhaps the most competitive class of the day was Class F, where Shane Parry’s Ford Puma narrowly defeated Adam Stallard’s Ford Escort MK1 by 12.2 seconds. The class saw a fascinating mix of classic and modern machinery, with Philip Bridgewater’s MX5 completing the podium.

The day wasn’t without its dramas, particularly for the Cross family. Both Dave and Simon Cross in their respective MX5s struggled in the later tests, tumbling down the order after promising starts to finish at the tail of the field.

As competitors packed away under clearing skies, the day’s razor-thin margins were the talk of the paddock. With just seconds separating many of the class positions after a full day of competition, this event once again demonstrated why grassroots motorsport continues to thrive across Britain.