Woolbridge Motor Club 2024 Clay Pigeon Autotest Championship

Just eight seconds determined the outcome of the the second grass Autotest of Woolbridge Motor Club’s summer season.

2023 champion Hoppé won the event staged close to the Clay Pigeon Kart Raceway near the A37,

The event tests precision car control against the stopwatch with penalties being applied to the elapsed time if a driver hits a course marker or does not follow the prescribed route.

At the wheel of his diminutive 993 cc engine Suzuki Alto, Hoppé from Sherborne, set the early pace by securing the fastest time on the first of five tests, opening up a lead of just over one second on Weymouth’s Andy Webb.

Andy Webb (driving) and Chris Briant battled in Toyota Yaris. (Image: Stafford Associates)

Webb would maintain second place throughout the event in his 1500 cc Toyota Yaris and claimed a win in the over 1400 cc division.

Hoppé replicated his form on the remaining four tests to complete the competition undefeated.

It was the Yaris which got closest to the dominant Hoppé on the second test but with Chris Briant at the wheel.

The Bridport driving instructor, who took the overall win at the previous Autotest, was unsuccessful in regaining some of the two seconds lost on the first test, with the eventual winner stretching his advantage by a further 1.6 seconds.

Alfie Mears claimed a class win (Image: Stafford Associates)

Briant continued to give chase, along with Webb, and would have finished third if not for a thirty second penalty for taking an incorrect route on the last test of the day.

Consequently, he fell to fourth place.

Benefitting from Briant’s penalty was Volkswagen Polo driver Alfie Mears who performed consistently throughout the event to claim third with a total time of 363.8 seconds.

He finished eight and a half seconds ahead of Briant and claimed victory in the up to 1400cc category.