Talented Torbay drivers making tracks in a centenary year

The South West motorsport season has now reached its conclusion, and it is time to reflect on the highlights, and for competitors to make plans over the winter months for 2026.

For Torbay Motor Club – celebrating their 75th Anniversary - it has been another successful year for their very talented young drivers, some of them making their motorsport debuts.

At the recent Wiscombe Park MG Car Club event, 15-year-old Murray Murray entered his first speed hillclimb. He is no stranger to the motorsport paddock – mother Bella and grandfather Guy both race. Murray enjoyed his first taste of competition with five sprint events earlier in the season.

Motorsport UK’s rules require 14–16-year-olds to successfully complete at least three sprints before they can enter a hillclimb.

On a day when even the experienced competitors found the conditions challenging, Murray improved his time with each run. His final time was a Personal Best of 59.64s taking 14s off his first run in practice and giving him 3rd place in the Class. Sharing a Mini One with his mother, he beat her by 1.3s!

Another of Torbay MC’s exciting youngsters, 15-year-old Henri Gosney, has been racing karts since he was 8. This season he has switched to cars, encouraged by his mother Prue, and with tuition and guidance from her partner, James Grant, with whom he shares a Suzuki Swift.

After competing in three sprint events at Clay Pigeon, Henri made his speed hillclimb debut at the Wiscombe Park Five Clubs event in September. He made steady progress, ultimately setting a PB of 60.14s - taking 10s off his practice run time.

Henri also entered the Wiscombe MG CC event. There were four drivers competing in the Junior Class – a record number for the venue. He led the Class after his second run, however, despite recording a new PB of 57.38s in his final run, he lost out on the Class win by just three tenths of a second.

Henri is now focussed on a very special event – he is entered in the Goodyear- supported BRSCC Fiesta Junior Scholarship at Blyton Park with a prize worth £60,000 on offer. Whatever the outcome, he has already got his hands on some silverware after being announced as Wiscombe Park’s Young Driver of The Year.

And proving that motorsport offers opportunities for all, Polly Ashley, also a Torbay MC member, has enjoyed an incredibly successful twelve months. In only her second full season of competition driving a 1.4L MG ZR, Polly from Brixham was crowned the 2024 Association of South Western Motor Clubs 1st Choice Finishes Autocross Champion.

In addition to the Championship, she also won the ASWMC Under 21’s and the All- Rounders Trophies too – all achieved at the age of 15!

As well as competing in autocross, she has also entered hillclimbs and sprint events during 2025 after making her debut on the hills 12 months ago in an MG ZR. This year, for the tarmac events, Polly has been competing in a Daihatsu Copen. At the Wiscombe MG CC event, she won the Junior Class.

Polly has been around cars from an early age. Her father, Simon, a Director of Central Garages (Torbay) Ltd, is himself a very successful racing driver – winning the Castle Combe Formula Ford 1600 title in 2002. He assists with the preparation of Polly’s car, and when time allows, competes in his Ralt RT3 single seater race car. Her brother Luke, also a graduate of the Junior Class, is a triple Runner up in the ASWMC Autocross Championship.

And to complete Team Ashley, mum, Abi, fulfils the role of Team Manager. Abi has also competed in speed hillclimbs, however, she is now content to oversee the exploits of the other family members.

Proving that she can drive fast whatever the car or discipline, Polly has a very successful motorsport career ahead of her.

Autocross is a popular entry route into motorsport for young drivers. Torbay MC’s Leon Sandercock-Hunter has finished second in this year’s Championship.

It is not just the young Torbay MC members who have excelled this season. Jon Langmead has won Class A(i) and finished 11th overall in the national BHC Cup Hillclimb Championship in his Lotus Elise 135R. He has dominated the Class with 10 wins and 3 records. He also clinched the Class in 2023 and 2024.

Mike Lee in his Force LM finished runner-up in the Fusion Fostering ASWMC Hillclimb Championship missing out on top spot to Ed Hollier by just 4 points. It was an incredibly competitive season - 2nd to 6th places were separated by just 0.9 points!

Although the action is on hold now until the new season gets underway in April, the very popular Torbay MC Sunday Breakfast Meets held monthly at Dawlish Warren Golf Club fill the winter months. The next meetings are on November 16 and December 7 – 9am until noon. Everyone is welcome, and it is an ideal opportunity to find out more about Torbay MC and its activities.

All the latest news is available on their website www.torbaymotorclub.co.uk