If ever there was someone who was born to love driving cars at high speeds around a half-mile circuit oval grass track then it is definitely Michaela Bevans, who has been the British and National Champion in several Autograss classes over the last few years and who is rightly regarded as a top driver across the country after starting out as a youngster of just 12 years old; the youngest driver around at the time.

Success from her early days

“From 2007 to 2011 I raced my single Suzuki Hayabusa motorbike-engined space-framed Mini (prepped by WL Racefab, Johnston),” Michaela told us, “reaching up to 300bhp, and then in the 2012/2013 season I raced in the Men's category of Autograss Racing in the "Super Saloons" Class 7 after I decided to make the move into this section as I had won the Ladies National Championship in 2009 & 2011, plus the British Championship Series.


“During these two seasons in the men's races I had to qualify for the Men's Nationals which I succeeded at each year and finished 12th overall. During the British Series I had a few heat wins and also made a few semi-finals against approximately 80 blokes!

“I thoroughly enjoyed my time racing against the men, although fellers don't like having competition from a female, especially if they are a threat to beating them perhaps,” says Michaela with a typical chuckle!

Sharing her car with new husband Mathew

2014 saw Michaela return to having a Ladies’  licence, as it was now time to share the race car, as she and her new husband Mathew, were getting married in the May and they had a Class 5 Vauxhall-powered rear wheel drive mini. Michaela was understandably jubilant when her hubbie drove really well and won the Men's Nationals in this car in 2012 in the Yorkshire Dales. 

During that season they had some technical problems off and on, but it all seemed to come together as Michaela raced at Major Raceway, Newport (Gwent) in the Nationals and took top honours, certainly making 2014 a year to remember after becoming Mrs Dance! 

Great success in Class Seven

“In the following year Mathew and I moved into Class Seven, where I've raced previously but not Mathew. We went for an Owens Motorsport-built Fiat Sceiecento rwd with twin Suzuki Hayabusa motorbike engines powering it! Such a powerful car, with immense power to weight ratio!

“We had great success with this freshly-born car, with Mathew making British finals & getting some podium finishes & finishing eighth at the end of the year out of 80+ competitors. My year was fantastic, by tallying up a rack of points consistently over the five rounds of the British Championship Series it made me British Champion in the mighty class 7 class once again! 

“Mathew and I have sadly sold our Fiat to contribute towards building our new home in Pendine but I am so lucky and thankful to have been offered two drives in friends’ cars. 

Great help from good friends

“Firstly, I competed in a 1000cc classic Class 1 Mini from Neil and Conner Griffiths of Ledbury. I've raced this car a handful of times this season and recently went to the Nationals, where I had two qualifying heat wins and a third place, making me joint 3rd qualifier for the grand final and in that final I raced on to become National Champion, title number eight for me and ten years on from when I won my National title in a class one in 2006. 

“The other car I've been fortunate to race is that of Phil Rogers, from Milford Haven. He has a twin motorbike-engined Class 10 open wheel special. This car is so compact and like a little powerful rocket!

Getting to grips with a new car

“I raced the car only on the Sunday before the Nationals and managed to get to grips with it fairly well. The power is immense and it is well set up. I had a heat win in heat one and but heat two did not go as planned, because I was lying a comfortable 2nd when I had an unfortunate and freak breakdown with the outside rear wheel, so had a non/finish.

“Knowing it was a win or nothing on Sunday morning in heat three to make that all important final, I had the fire in my belly and wanted it so bad- and it very much went to plan as we bagged the win. 

Problematic final

“The final turned out to be problematic to say the least because I was off superbly from the start bungee when another competitor clambered over my car as she rolled her car so that damage was caused to my front inside wheel, shocker and steering arm so I needed repair time. 

“In the re-run I got to the first bend ahead again, but only to be hit in the rear tyre and got spun out – but from the third time of asking the race ran the full distance and it was a cracking race between myself and a girl from Wiltshire who swapped and changed lead position throughout, however by the chequered flags I had to settle for second place on the podium. 

Also at the Nationals, sister Alice won class four and they raced head to head in the overall Champion of Champions Race, coming home in 1st & 2nd. Such a moment they will treasure always and Michaela was thrilled for her sister!

And finally . . .

“Massive thanks to all who've supported me, especially Mum and Dad (Mike and Joan), sister Alice, husband Mathew, Viv & Meryl (in-laws), Gordon and Shirley (Nan & Gampy), plus  and the rest of the family who are so well-known in autograss racing for being stars in their own right.

“Then there’s Neil & Conner Griffiths, Phil Rogers, plus the Acute Response Team (my employers at Withybush Hospital, where we cover Pembrokeshire 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to care for a variety of patients in the community setting. 

“Finally, I would like to give a huge shout out to Pembrokeshire Autograss Club who are celebrating their 40th year this season in Autograss.”

One only has to chat to Michaela Bevans-Dance for a short while to perceive her love of Autograss racing, over a decade since she first followed in the family tradition, and her genuine enthusiasm is linked to a respect for opponents and willingness to help them whilst remaining terrifically competitive.

We thoroughly enjoyed meeting up with her again and we wish this modest and likeable young lady continued success as she buzzes around grass tracks all over the UK in search of more success.