The David Ayres Trial

David Ayers Trial 2026 Event Report

The David Ayers Trial proved to be a low-scoring affair at the sharp end of the field, with several crews producing impressive performances across three rounds of competition. Organised by the Launceston & North Cornwall Motor Club, the event attracted a competitive entry and rewarded those who could combine precision with consistency across the varied sections.

Wilks and Smith Deliver a Winning Performance

At the end of the day, it was Andy Wilks and Mark Smith who emerged victorious. Their Crosslé accumulated just 15 marks across three rounds, making them the clear winners of the event and demonstrating exceptional consistency throughout. Particularly impressive was their final round, where they completed all eight sections without the loss of a single mark.

Second place went to Simon Kingsley and Sara Briggs, who finished on 21, while Thomas Bricknell and Andy Beveridge completed the overall podium on 28. All three crews competed in Class 1, underlining the strength of competition within the category.

Consistency Proves the Key

While several competitors produced outstanding individual rounds, the winners demonstrated the value of maintaining momentum throughout the entire event. Wilks and Smith opened with a score of 12 and followed it with scores of just 3 and 0, steadily building a winning advantage as the day progressed.

Kingsley and Briggs also delivered one of the day's standout drives. After losing only seven marks in the opening round and three in the second, they remained firmly in contention before finishing as runners-up and securing First Class Award honours.

Battles Across the Classes

Class 1 dominated the overall results, claiming the top four places outright. Alongside the podium finishers, John Fack and Adrian Rendell produced a strong performance to finish fourth overall on 46, ahead of Mike Readings and Carole Readings on 61.

In the Live Axle category, Alan Baker and Zak Ruby emerged as the leading crew. Their Apex finished on 61, narrowly ahead of Graham Wilson and Kayden Johnston on 72, while Toby Daniel and Jason Daniel completed the live axle contingent on 96.

Class 3 also produced some close competition. Stewart Stamp and Karen Warren led the way on 67, ahead of John Cole and Anne Cole on 80, while Mike Wevill and Nigel Cowling finished on 85.

Notable Performances

The event saw several crews finish with double-digit clear counts, highlighting the quality of driving throughout the field. Wilks and Smith recorded an impressive 19 clears, the highest total of the day, while Kingsley and Briggs amassed 17 clears during their runner-up finish. Bricknell and Beveridge added 15 clears on their way to third place overall.