All competitors and passengers please bring your current Motorsport UK licence and 2023 IOWCC membership cards with you to each event. Please enter and pay ONLINE as usual before the closing date
When you arrive please go to the timing trailer and present –
Your membership card Your motorsport uk licence (a digital copy on your phone is acceptable) We will check that you have entered We will check that you have paid
If this is all correct we will issue you with a wrist band for the day.
If you are a current IOWCC member and do not have a 2023 club card ask at race control and they will issue you with one.
Round 3 was expected to be just another normal round of the Isle of Wight Car Club’s forward only autotest season, however, nobody expected it to be so epic.
An unprecedented 41 drivers and 5 passengers signed up to round 3 held at BAE systems in Northwood. To add to this, the course was a departure from the norm with super technical sections that tested each competitor, wondering if using the hand brake was quicker or not, and finally on top of this the eclectic mix of cars from standard front wheel saloon cars, through a varied amount of modified cars to tire shredding drift cars, made it an amazing spectacle to watch.
The competition was very tight with the leaderboard changing as through out the day drivers decided upon the best racing lines and techniques that worked for their car and driving style.
The fastest Youth of the day was Joel Gilby in his MGZR. This was also a fantastic battle between his dad Boo Gilby who was sharing the same car, Boo just staying ahead by 0.34 of a second. However, its only a matter of time before Joel ceases to be the apprentice and becomes the master – watch out Boo.
Class 1 is for unmodified cars under 1400cc and the honour of the class win went to Jamie Browne in his lovely Starlet , who also finished 29th overall.
Class 2 is for unmodified cars over 1400cc and the winning car in this class was a not so lovely looking MX5 but looks are not everything because this rusty standard car was driven by Wayne Hole and his precise smooth driving style gave him the class win and got him onto the podium, however, exactly what step of the podium would be a deciding battle in the closing minutes of the final run of the day.
Class 3 is for modified cars under 1400cc, Steve Staff was having issues with his “No money Micra” and had a plethora of classic minis to contend with – it is great to see these classic cars being used by their owners and still being competitive. Without doubt Dave Goodwin has become a master of autotesting in his mini and this gave him the class win and 3rd step of the podium.
Class 4 is for modified cars over 1400cc and Shane Parry was enjoying the challenge of this technical course in his Ford Puma that he was sharing with Louise Wren, however, a snapped handbrake cable meant that both of them had to adapt their driving style to suit.
Louise managed to keep her competition at bay and took the title of the fastest lady of the day and also finished 13th overall despite the mechanical handicap.
Shane also realised that with one broken handbrake cable, he could lock up a rear wheel in only one direction but would have to drive or, lift off oversteer in the other, this knowledge and adaptation of driving techniques and skill gave him the class win and momentarily put him on the top step of the podium.
I say momentarily as at the end of run 6 there was only one more driver left and it was Wayne Hole. Before Shane’s final run of the day Wayne was provisional event winner and was contemplating having a drive in a classic mini on his final run, however, Shane had just put a stop to that with his decisive blow. Wayne put on his helmet, sat in his MX5 and a genuine silence fell upon the the onlooking spectators as they watched him deliver the fastest run of the day…. but at the final moment the car skidded to a stop just out of the confines of the stop box giving Wayne a 10 second penalty and allowing Shane to retain the top step of the podium.
It was an amazing and dramatic conclusion to a very long day of grass roots motorsport, the final twist to the story was that this was Andy Williams’ last event in his class 5 special. After taking the class win he has decided to sell his car to a fellow club member and try a different car and class. We are all excited to see what Andy decides to campaign in the future.
If you would like to have a go at autotesting with the IOWCC, head over to our club website at www.iowcc.co.uk for more information and a calendar of events.
Round 2 of the IOWCC 2023 forward only autotest season was an unsealed event held at the always dramatic venue of Knighton Sand Pit.
The weather was predicted to be dry but with the previous day being wet, competitors initially struggled for grip, however, as the temperature climbed, so did the competition as the track dried out and the times tumbled.
It was fantastic to see such a good turn out, with so many people enjoying a day of grass roots motorsport. This is such an accessible sport with many people opting to share a budget saloon car and compete with a passenger.
Knobbly or Mud & Snow tyres would help in such challenging conditions but class 1 and 2 are for unmodified cars and are restricted to normal road tyres. These unmodified cars are, however, permitted to have a 4 point rear cage for safety and underbody sump guards to protect the car from the many rocks and ruts.
Sliding around on those normal road tyres but still putting in a very respectable time was our class 1 winner Martin Goddard in his Saxo, who also finished 13th overall.
Class 2 is for unmodified car over 1400cc and Lewis Whittington in his MX5 not only took the class win but had an awful lot of fun sliding his rear wheel car round the many wide open gravel turns.
The youth championship is for drivers aged 14-17 and is sponsored by Jake Ellis Sunglasses – Chloe Dawson and Millie Blake had a great battle but it was Mille who took today’s youth title.
Fastest lady of the day award went to Cathy True in her new BMW Mini Cooper rally car – a wonderful drive and some great practice for the Island Stages Rally in the autumn.
Class 3 and 4 are for modified cars, these cars are permitted to use knobby or Mud & Snow tyres and are open to all sorts of modifications as long as they still resemble a road going car.
With these advantages and no class 5 cars competing at this event, it was all to play for and it was an intense day of the top 10 places changing almost every run as the track dried out.
Steven Staff in his “No Money Micra” knows how to drive and stayed on top of the consistently changing conditions to be awarded the class 3 win and finished 6th overall.
Class 4 and our event winner, standing on the top step of the podium sponsored by Pro-Tek, was Wayne Hole. Wayne had a slow start to the day in his Rally Ford Focus and was frustrated by his performance, however, in the closing runs of the day he was battling with Jon Barrett in his Rally Subaru Impreza. In the end Jon had to settle for second, relinquishing the the lead to Wayne.
Driver of the day though has to go to Steve Glass who in his class 4 Bini Coopers S was packing a real punch and the sound of the angry supercharger screaming on the straights really entertained the spectators. Steve has been competing for many years and has had mixed results but today he was rewarded with 3rd overall.
The next event is a sealed surface venue at BAE systems in Northwood on the 14th of May. If you would like to enter, ensure you have your entry in by midnight on Wednesday the 10th.
If you have not already please subscribe to our email list via our website so that you will receive our news letter and advanced info on future events.
New for 2023 can all competitors and passengers please bring your current Motorsport UK licence and 2023 IOWCC membership cards with you to each event. If you are a current IOWCC member and do not have a 2023 club card as ask at race control and they will issue you with one.
The info in the poster above is wrong – spectators do not have to pay but will have to go to the garden kiosk and register with them within 30 mins of arriving if they do that they do not have to pay and wont get a fine.
There are so many benefits being a club member including some amazing discounts and services from our club partners and sponsors
Use the membership section of the club website to sign up for 2023 and the link below for your motorsport uk license.
To compete at Isle of Wight Car Club Autotest events as a driver or a passenger in 2023 you will need to hold a new RS Clubman licence as a minimum, which will be free of charge. The RS Clubman licence can be applied for online via the Motorsport UK website and aims to encourage more grass roots participation, as well as ensuring all Motorsport UK event competitors are covered by comprehensive insurance. Additionally, licence holders will have access to Motorsport UK’s Member Benefits Programme that includes the new upgraded personal accident cover.
Other licences
RS Interclub (UK Only) – This licence can be applied for online via the Motorsport UK website and is the minimum requirement for competing in Sprints, Hillclimbs and being a navigator in Stage Rally. This cost £74
Race and Rally – to drive in a stage rally or circuit racing you would need to undertake the relvent tests for your chosen discipline – if you would like more information please contact the club.
see the chart below for the full list of competitors minimum acceptable licences
Isle of Wight Car Club 
