Event 1308 Story

Date: 2025-11-29

Autosolo Specialists Shine at Kemble Airfield Challenge

Competitors faced challenging conditions at Kemble Airfield last weekend as the latest round of the regional Autosolo championship delivered thrilling battles across all classes.

Peter Williams emerged as the overall winner after a masterful display of precision driving in his Mazda MX-5, overcoming early pressure from championship rival Sarah Thompson. Williams’ consistency proved decisive, as he posted fastest times on five of the eight tests to secure victory by a margin of 3.2 seconds.

“The surface was incredibly tricky today,” Williams remarked afterwards. “There was a moment on test four where I thought I’d thrown it all away, but somehow the car just gripped and we managed to keep it together.”

Thompson, driving her nimble Toyota GT86, had established an early lead with blistering performances on the first two tests, but a costly wrong test on the third run effectively ended her challenge for the top spot. Nevertheless, her recovery drive was impressive, setting fastest time on the final test to secure second place overall.

In Class A, dominated by smaller-engined cars, newcomer James Mitchell caused an upset in his Citroen Saxo, defeating several more experienced competitors. Mitchell, competing in only his third event, showed remarkable car control in the slippery conditions.

The most dramatic battle unfolded in Class B, where just 0.8 seconds separated the top three finishers after all tests were completed. David Cooper ultimately prevailed in his Ford Fiesta ST, despite a cone penalty on his penultimate run that nearly cost him the class win.

Class C saw the return of veteran competitor Michael Harrison, whose classic Mini Cooper S delighted spectators with its sideways approach to the tighter sections. While not troubling the overall leaders, Harrison’s commitment through the course’s most technical elements earned him the “Driver of the Day” award from the organising club.

The event, run with typical efficiency by the local motor club, finished ahead of schedule despite an early delay caused by morning fog. Forty-three competitors completed all tests, with only two retirements – both due to mechanical issues rather than driver errors.

The championship now moves to its penultimate round next month, with Williams’ victory putting him in a commanding position to secure the overall title.