🏁 Ferguson Edges Thriller at The Junction to Take Round 3 Victory

Round 3 of the McMillan Specialist Cars NI Autotest Championship, hosted by Larne Motor Club at The Junction Retail and Leisure Park, delivered a dramatic and closely fought contest — with Steven Ferguson once again proving why he remains the benchmark in Northern Ireland Autotesting.

Now in its fifth consecutive year at The Junction, the event attracted a strong entry and produced one of the tightest finishes of the season so far — with changeable weather adding another layer of challenge.

Larne Motor Club Secretary Josh, Clerk of the Course Jonathan, David from The Junction and George from McMillan Specialist Cars

🌦️ Conditions Add to the Challenge

Spells of rain throughout the day ensured that conditions remained unpredictable, particularly on the longest and most demanding test of the event.

Some competitors were fortunate to encounter dry runs, while others faced a much more slippery surface — making consistency incredibly difficult and rewarding those who could adapt quickly.

👑 Champion Shows His Class

The fight for victory went right down to the wire, with Steven Ferguson and Peter Grimes separated by less than a second after the final test — a reflection of just how close the battle was throughout the day.

Ferguson ultimately took the win with a total time of 735.0, edging out Grimes on 735.9 .

It was a performance built on precision and consistency, and a major statement in his bid for a 12th championship title.

🥈 Grimes Pushes All the Way

Grimes delivered one of his strongest drives to date, pushing Ferguson all the way and adapting impressively to the changing conditions.

🥉 Lamont Keeps the Pressure On

Round 2 winner Ashley Lamont continued his strong form with a third-place finish (753.0) .

⚔️ Battles Throughout the Field

Just behind the podium, Andy Blair secured 4th place, while David Thompson completed the top five .

Across the field, tight margins and varying grip levels ensured competitive action in every class.

🌟 Standout Performances in Other Classes

Away from the main championship battle, there were some outstanding drives across the Advanced and Clubman categories.

🏆 Advanced Class Winner: Jordan Burns delivered a superb performance to take victory with a total of 576.3, comfortably ahead of the field .

🏆 Clubman Class Winner: John Nolan topped the Clubman standings with an impressive 589.2, showing excellent pace and consistency throughout the day .

👏 A special mention also goes to novice competitor Finn Stewart, who gained valuable experience in challenging conditions on his debut.

📍 The Junction Delivers Again

The Junction once again proved why it is such a popular venue on the calendar. Its tight, technical layout combined with faster sections demands total commitment — and with intermittent rain, even the smallest mistake proved costly. Larne Motor Club look forward to working with the team at The Junction Retail and Leisure Complex again and thank them for their continued support.

Also Larne Motor Club would like to thank all the marshals for their help in running another successful event.

🔢 Full Results

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(See full classification for all drivers and class results)

🔮 Championship Picture

With three rounds complete, the championship battle is beginning to take shape. Ferguson’s victory puts him firmly back at the centre of the title fight, but with Lamont, Grimes, Blair and others all showing strong pace, the season remains wide open.

If Round 3 proved anything, it’s that skill, consistency — and a little bit of luck with the conditions — could make all the difference in 2026.