Link Up Ltd MSA Autotest Championship Round 3

Alastair Moffatt was in dominant form being  fastest on 15 of the 16 tests as he took his third straight FTD of the season at the Maidstone and Mid Kent MC’s Kent Driver Autotest.  Ashley Lamont was again very rapid in the Westfield, but was kept on his toes by Richard Pinkney, who was just 2 seconds adrift after the first round of tests, a stall from Lamont saw Pinkney take the initiative after 8 tests, until the Caterham’s gearbox failed and handed the class lead back to Lamont, Pinkney replaced the gearbox, but the gap was now too large to close.  Gavin Dickson put in another cracking drive in the Class C Nova winning the class and coming home 4th overall, but was under pressure from John Moffatt, who was very quick out of the blocks and despite a penalty was less than a second behind Dickson after the first round, but another penalty and some minor errors trying to catch the flying Dickson, meant he had to settle for second in class and 6th overall. Howard Everingham was the quickest of the Mini’s gaining his third class win of the season and maintaining his second overall in the championship.

Top 6
1.       Alastair Moffatt             Mini Special        749.1
2.       Ashley Lamont              Westfield            787.8
3.       Richard Pinkney           Caterham            809.8
4.       Gavin Dickson               Nova                   817.9
5.       Malcolm Livingston       Lindsay Special  826.8
6.       John Moffatt                   Nova                  839.5

Round 2 Bolton-le-Moors CC

Alastair Moffatt made it two in a row by taking FTD at the Bolton Autotest.  Moffatt was pushed all the way by 2006 MSA Champion Dave Mosey and the two were by just two tenths after 6 tests, but two penalties for Mosey on test 7 saw him drop  too far behind.  Richard Pinkney (Caterham) and Ashley Lamont (Westfield) were also in contention over the opening tests, they were well in touch with the two Mini Specials until rain intervened and were then left to battle for third overall with Lamont finishing just 6 seconds ahead after the 15 tests.  John Moffatt made it a double celebration for the family by winning Class C in the Nova after an uncharacteristic wrong test from Gavin Dickson on the penultimate test handed Moffatt an 11.3 second victory.

Top 6
1.       Alastair Moffatt               Mini Special        913.0
2.       Dave Mosey                    Mini Special        924.8
3.       Ashley Lamont                Westfield SE       931.8
4.       Richard Pinkney             Caterham 7         937.8
5.       Duncan Wild                    ABS                   972.8
6.       John Moffatt                     Nova                 1002.5

Round 1. Foxley Autotests, Herefordshire Motor Club.

Alastair Moffatt took a convincing victory setting the fastest times on 14 of the 16 tests on his home event at the Foxley Estate.  Torrential rain the day before made the early morning runs very slippery and Moffatt  was able to use the superior grip of the Mini Special to open up an early lead over the Lotus 7 of Malcolm Livingston.  Ashley Lamont making his MSA Championship debut, put in some very quick times in the lightweight Westfield to keep in trading times with Livingston, but too many penalties were his downfall and ended the day with 3rd overall.  Gavin Dickson was the best of the saloon cars, bringing the Nova home in 6th overall with Carl Sams hot on his heels, Sams had led the class until Test 8 where he dropped over 8 seconds to allow Dickson  to take over at the front of the class.  John Moffatt was another Nova driver in the hunt for class honours, but two driveshaft failures meant he had to settle for 3rd.

Event Results

FTD        Alastair Moffatt             Mini Special      843.5
2nd        Malcolm Livingston       Lotus 7              899.4
3rd        Ashley Lamont               Westfield SE     915.2
4th        Stephen Morten              Raw Striker      921.0
5th        Stuart Perrin                   Retrotester        940.0
6th        Gavin Dickson                 Nova                 947.9