North Devon Motor Club launches 2026 Autotest Championship at Chivenor Airfield

The first round of the North Devon Motor Club’s 2026 Production Car Autotest Championship was held recently on the open tarmac of the Chivenor Airfield with the competitors, who came from all over Devon, being challenged by a biting wind and plentiful rain.

Just two seconds separated the overall winners and the leading Front Wheel Drive competitors with Mark Batty’s Ford Fiesta just heading off Barnstaple’s Nick Webber in his Ford Ka.

Third overall and the leading Rear Wheel Drive car was a Mazda Mx5 driven by Ben Goswell from Braunton, some 16 seconds in arrears. The junior award was collected by Kyan Neville of West Down at the wheel of his own Ford Ka.

This event was the result of collaboration between course designer Ryan Neville and promoter Derek Drayton with the help of the official marshals, Jason Irwin and Howard Dark.

This year’s series will take place on the last Sunday of most months during the year – some on Chivenor tarmac and some on the grass of the Club’s own 50 acre facility at Sugworthy, High Bickington.

The aim of Autotesting is to negotiate as quickly as possible a memorised, low-speed course without hitting any markers – it is all about car control. Drivers compete on courses – usually on tarmac or grass areas such as car parks or smooth fields – marked out by plastic pylons or cones.

They tackle a number of tests, with two attempts at each. The driver with the lowest accumulated time is the winner, although penalties are incurred for hitting cones, failing to stop on a line, or for taking the wrong route.

Autotests are an affordable form of motorsport, with numerous events throughout the year. Club membership starts from £10/year and entry fees are usually £20 for an event. All you need is a standard production car, to join your local motor club, and then apply for your RS Clubman Licence from Motorsport UK. Because events are held on private land, youngsters can start from just 16 years old.

For more information on Autotests and everything else that the North Devon Motor Club is involved in, go to www.ndmc.org.uk or look them up on Facebook.

Pictures from Paul Morris Motorsport Photography