THIRTY-six competitors faced 16 demanding tests when Herefordshire Motor Club hosted their annual Foxley Autotests at Mansel Lacy, the opening round of the British Series as well as four other National championships, too.

The tests saw them guide their machines in and around markers following a defined route all against the clock.

Club Member and defending British Champion Alastair Moffatt (Mini Special) took an early lead of 6.5 seconds over Richard Pinkney (Caterham 7), with Stephen Wild a mere 0.3 seconds further behind in his ABS Freestyle.

After eight Tests, Wild has taken time off Moffatt to boast a 1.4 second lead and Pinkney endured three costly penalties for striking markers.

Moffatt had no answer for Wild or Pinkney and after 16 tests, Wild would be declared winner with fastest time of day at 798.1 seconds, with Pinkney just one second behind and Moffatt a further six seconds adrift.

Locked in a battle for Class A were Anthony Preston, Howard Everingham and Rob Rolston, all driving Minis. Everingham had drive-shaft failure during the closing tests leaving the Class A win to Preston, ahead of Rolston by 36.3 seconds.

John Moffatt opened up a big advantage in his Nova for Class B, against Lee Valentine in a similar car, the latter performing a wrong test and so hampering his battle by 30-second penalty.

John Moffatt’s only indiscretion all day was one marker with an excellent performance seeing him easily win Class B taking 4th overall.

The Sports Cars class is always an exciting spectacle, however, two front-runners Simon Echlin and Malcolm Livingston were side-lined early into the event with mechanical problems in their shared drive Caterham 7.

This left the class battle to Richard Pinkney, Chris Atkinson (VW Buggy), Keith Walton (Locost KW7) and Stephen Morten (Raw Striker).

Morten made a wrong test, putting him out of contention and, despite Pinkney’s penalties, he put in a storming performance to win Class C easily by nearly 40 seconds, missing out on top spot by just a1 second. Atkinson was second in class with Walton five seconds behind.

Leominster’s Liam Rollings made his Foxley debut in his Mini and quickly got to grips with these complex tests.

A fuel-pump and mechanical problem did not deter the mechanic too much and he finished a creditable 25th overall and was presented with The Steve Powell Memorial Trophy for Best Novice.

Another Herefordshire member had to switch cars at the last minute due to engine problems with his own machine.

David Evans double-drove a fellow competitor’s Striker and spent a little while adjusting, but was pleased to finish 24th overall and collecting The Doug Moon Challenge Trophy for Best HMC Member.

Class D is for Special cars, specifically built for this type of motorsport.

With Wild and Alastair Moffatt battling for overall they opened up a lead from other class contenders, and while Moffatt lost out for first position, he took the award for first in Class.

The remaining Class E for Road-going cars was easily won by Dave Cook in his unique RS100E.

Best lady driver was Helen Perren in a Retrotester Special shared with husband Stuart, and she finished 11th overall.

But for his sheer skill and expertise, Fastest Time of Day and The Motoquip Trophy was presented to Stephen Wild.

The organisers were presented with an award for being nominated Best Event in the Association of West Midlands Autotest Championship for 2008.