Robin Lyons showed tremendous form, in his rapid Mini, to win the 2015 Lakeland Tours Autotest, promoted by Enniskllen Motor Club, with some 11 seconds in hand over multiple-champion Steven Ferguson at St Angelo last Saturday.

Robin Lyons showed tremendous form, in his rapid Mini, to win the 2015 Lakeland Tours Autotest, promoted by Enniskllen Motor Club, with some 11 seconds in hand over multiple-champion Steven Ferguson at St Angelo last Saturday.

On a day perfect for autotesting Clerk of the Course, Keith Boyd, ran four tests simultaneously on the concrete surface of the Severfield-Fisher Engineering yard. In third overall position 7.5 seconds behind was Paul Mooney [Nova] while Paul Blair [Striker] was almost literally on his bumper a mere 0.7 seconds in arrears in fourth.

Twenty-two drivers started the competition at noon and treated the small band of Autotest fanatics to a scintillating display of exciting, even breathtaking display of car control over the next three and a half hours. This was round 5 of the Aughrim Filling Station ANICC N Ireland Autotest Championship and local interest was focused on Enniskillen man Jonni McDaid and his Dad, Tommi, in their shared Mini competing in Class ‘C’ – Small Saloons. Unfortunately for Jonni he came up against an in-form Lyons who never put a wheel wrong all afternoon. McDaid took second in Class ‘C’ some 39.3 seconds behind Lyons with Norman Ferguson [Steven’s Dad] a close third just one second adrift with Tommi McDaid in fourth a further 14.8 seconds in arrears.

Jonni claimed 10th overall while Tommi finished 14th overall.

Try as he might, Ferguson in his Mini-based Special, just could not better Lyons who completed the final test just 0.9 of a second ahead of the hard-charging Ferguson.

Ferguson did claim first in Class ‘A’ – FWD Sportscars and Specials with Guy Foster in second and Peter Grimes in third.

Class ‘B’- RWD Sportscars and Specials was the domain of the ‘kitcar’. Paul Blair took the honours here in his immaculate red Striker with the black version of Ashley Lamont powered by a glorious-sounding Cosworth engine finishing 23.6 seconds behind and Gareth Dillon in third a further 20.7 seconds back.

Class ‘D’ – RWD Large Saloons [the domain of the Vauxhall Nova], was won by Paul Mooney [Nova] with David Thompson and Mark King second and third respectively, both in Novas.

George McMillan encountered problems with the gearbox in the Nova he shared with son Jamie but managed running repairs to complete the event. Mark King also overcame a driveshaft breakage in his valiant efforts to claim his third in Class ‘D’.

At the awards ceremony in Caf� St Angelo, Keith Boyd thanked long-time sponsor Lakeland Tours. In an effort to encourage participation he also awarded veteran competitor Paul Phelan the special award as The Highest Non-registered Competitor. He finished by thanking all the officials and marshals whose efficiency and enthusiasm made the day run very smoothly indeed.

Further details and photographs are to be found on EMC website: www.enniskillenmotorclub.co.uk and on EMC’s facebook page.