Ireland’s TDC supported Autotest team took runner up position, behind old rivals Northern Ireland, in the Ken Wharton Memorial International Autotest at Alcester, in Warwickshire.

After seven long, demanding tests, totalling well over two thousand seconds, there was just 20 seconds between the two teams from this island, with England, Scotland and Wales trailing behind.

Kilkenny’s Ian White, making his debut in the event, was the star of the Irish team, finishing second in the individual competition, behind English veteran Malcolm Livingston, with NI team leader Paul Blair next in line. Leitrim’s David Thompson finished fourth, taking a class win. This was Northern Ireland’s 36th win in the long history of the event, another new record.