FROM day stages to night stages, sun to rain, an exciting and challenging Roberts Garages Jersey Rally 2024 had a little bit of everything.
Fierce competition among the entrants culminated in victory for number-two seeds Sam Touzel and Max Freeman in their powerful 4WD Fiesta Rally2, while the number-one seeds James Labey and Robbie Hannah were forced to retire on the opening day after the damage sustained to their Fiesta proved too much to continue.
At the conclusion of a national rally campaign, Touzel entered the event as one of several fancied runners – although Labey and Hannah, and Mark Kelly and Will Atkins (seeded three), were expected to be on the pace as well.
Behind the trio, there was to be an equally fascinating battle among the rear-wheel-drive Ford Escorts.
The top seeds started Friday’s 12 competitive sections, with Touzel stamping his mark on the event from the start, some ten seconds clear of Labey, with visitors Kelly and Atkins a further second adrift, with former multiple winners and first RWD crew Ross Le Noa and Domonic Volante a further six seconds behind in fourth.
Labey claimed the fastest times for stages four and five and the battle was on.
Sadly Labey and Hannah did not emerge from the second running of the Grouville stage, with damage to their Fiesta proving critical.
Touzel continued his winning ways with fastest time on all stages through the Friday sectors of the Rally while Kelly, after a slightly slower start claimed second, particularly through the exciting night stages at Rozel and Archirondel.
Friday evening ended with Touzel in the lead by over one minute, Kelly making up ground and Le Noa the fastest rear-wheel drive at 52.49mins despite a strong challenge from the 2-litre Escort of former winners Steve Leonard and Sion Humphreys.
With some 100 miles of competitive closed roads, the showcase event is more of a marathon than a sprint and it was unusual to see 21 retirements on the Friday afternoon despite the good weather and just 39 of the 87 starters taking part in the ceremonial finish celebrations.
Notwithstanding this, the Trophy Rally on Saturday had a healthy entry as many had managed to repair their cars. Dave Oliveira and Victor Nobrega claimed the honours after a very late Friday night spent replacing the differential on their 2.5 litre Escort, although they faced a strong challenge from Richard Manning and Simon Bonny in their early Escort.
Saturday morning came with the realisation that rain had been falling as the teams headed to the Grève de Lecq and St Ouen stages in the west.
Clerk of the course Ron Allen declared the event “wet” and tyres were an important factor in the slippery conditions – the majority of the crews appeared to have made the right decision.
Touzel and Freeman now led the running order, following overnight seeding, and claimed honours for the first two stages.
However Kelly and Atkins picked up speed and claimed four stage wins over the six runs, to reduce the deficit.
The battle for Escort honours saw Leonard challenging Le Noa strongly and this was to be their story through the Saturday afternoon as well.
Darryl Morris and Steve Gully in the recently acquired Skoda R5 continued to rise through the ranks as they familiarised themselves with the car, battling with another former winner – Jeremy Baudains and James Ollivro (Escort) and Richard Fishleigh and Jason McCullough from the UK – Fishleigh’s best previous result was second overall.
At this stage, the classic Ford Anglia of Simon and Katie Le Noa (powered by a very modern 2.5 litre engine) also featured in the rear-wheel drive challenge.
Drives of the weekend were beginning to emerge from the super 1400 Corsa of visitors Simon Hunter and Howard Pridmore and from Jersey’s Jack Hinton and Connor Carre, powering their 1600cc Vauxhall Nova to impressive stage times.
After lunch, the tests moved back east to Trinity and St Saviour.
By this time, Touzel’s lead was 90secs, but Kelly was not about to settle for a second place.
Touzel claimed four fastest times for the six stages to remain dominant and win the overall event by a healthy margin of 1min 52secs.
Kelly was still delighted with his best result to date and is looking forward to fighting for the overall crown next year.
Behind, in the 4WD battle, Le Noa and Leonard continued their own duel with a much closer 31secs splitting them at the finish as the latter claimed 2-litre honours.
Morris climbed the learning curve to a fine fifth and will be aiming for more mileage and will no doubt have greater ambitions in the future.
Battles through the whole field were eagerly watched by the large crowds, despite rain and a very dark Friday night.
The super 1400 Corsa of Hunter claimed Class A honours from returning visitors James Weaver and Teresa Butler in their MG, in 31st spot.
Class B was the domain of Jack Hinton and Connor Carre – their Nova seemingly unchallengeable by second placed Darren and Danni Pool on their first visit to the Island.
Third spot and the trophy for fastest driver under 25 fell to Tyler Collins and David Knight – with consistent stage times in their very reliable Honda Civic.
Former multiple winners Leonard and Humphreys took a fine win in the up to 2-litre category – followed by the classic Escort of the Welsh team – John Morgan and Llinos Jones-Edwards – historic engine and a H pattern gearbox demonstrating that older cars can still make their mark.
Mixed Channel Island crew, Paul Trebert and Kieran Gregory were delighted to claim third in their Escort, just one second adrift of Morgan.
Class D (over 2 litre) saw the front runners claim honours, with Le Noa closely followed by Jeremy Baudains and James Ollivro and the fabulous Ford Anglia of Simon and Katie Le Noa in third.
The four-wheel drive category fell to Morris and Gully as the top three finishers all featured in the overall trophies.
Behind them visitors Richard Weatherley and Shaun Layland in the amazing Citroen were delighted with third whilst the Subaru Impreza of Chris Le Chevalier and James Phillips enjoyed a strong placing for an older car.
Final class of FWD2 (front wheel two wheel drive) was once again the home of Andy Corner and Ade Campo, who have visited for the Rally since the 90s.
Campaigning the Ford Fiesta R200 they were soon accustomed to it and won the class by a minute from the leading Guernsey team of Chris Torode and Nick Saunders in their rapid Peugeot 205.
Torode’s son Angus and Matt Godfrey (another mixed CI crew) took third just over 4mins behind.
A major sporting event such as the Roberts Garages Jersey Rally takes many months of organising and working with Island authorities and residents.
The organisers extended their heartfelt thanks for the support and assistance they receive, not just from the authorities and fellow Islanders, but also from the hundreds of volunteers who assist in some way both in the 11 months it takes to co-ordinate all activities, and also over the rally weekend.
This year the rally brought over 60 qualified marshals to assist and general consensus was that they enjoyed the event and Island life and would like to return.
Full results (driver named first)
1. Sam Touzel & Max Freeman
2. Mark Kelly & Will Atkins
3. Ross Le Noa & Domonic Volante
4. Steve Leonard & Sion Humphreys
5. Darryl Morris & Steve Gully
6. Jeremy Baudains & James Ollivro
7. Simon Le Noa & Katie Le Noa
8. Richard Weatherley & Shaun Laylan
9. Simon Hunter & Howard Pridmore
10. John Morgan & Llinos Jones-Edwards
11. Paul Trebert & Kieran Gregory
12. Jack Hinton & Connor Carre
13. Nathan Nicolle & Andy Barrot
14. Chris Barette & Alan Lloyd
15. Mark Syvret & Chris Fox
16. Chris Cotillard & Harri Cotillard
17. David Parnell & Paul Arberry
18. Andy Corner & Ade Campo
19. Chris Torode, Nick Saunders
20. Richard Le Marquand, Trevor Rabet
21. Chris Le Chevalier, James Phillips
22. Kevin Rumens, Kay Taylor
23. Angus Torode, Matt Godfrey
24. Keith Pinel, Matt Pinel
25. Darren Pool, Danni Pool
26. Rex Ireland, Adrian Scadding
27. Mark Galvin, Lee Morley
28. Andy Henry, Nick Gregg
29. Tyler Collins, David Knight
30. David Edmunds, Dominic Jeans
31. James Weaver, Teresa Butler
32. Nathan Beddoe, Peter Lucken
33. Gary Robert, Karl Marshall
34. Phil Jones, Emma Falle
35. K’han Holden, James Mallandaine
36. Dan Gallichan, Will de la Haye
37. John Le Cheminant, Gregory Robert
38. Tony Rollings, Mel Romeril
39. Ian Robertson, Andrew Scott
Class winners
Class A (up to 1400cc) & highest placed Vauxhall: Simon Hunter & Howard Pridmore
Class B winners (up to 1600cc): Jack Hinton & Connor Carre
Class C (up to 2000cc): Steve Leonard & Sion Humphreys
Class D (over 2000cc) & highest placed driver over 50: Jeremy Baudains & James Ollivro
Class E (4WD): Darryl Morris & Steve Gully
Class FWD2: Andy Corner & Ade Campo
Trophy Winners
Roberts Garages Overall Driver & Co Driver & Highest placed Ford: Sam Touzel & Max Freeman
Trophy Rally: Dave Oliveira & Victor Nobrega
Mark Lowe Spirit of the Rally: Theresa Crehan-Ferey
Jersey Van Sales U25 years old: Tyler Collins
Jersey Pearl highest placed lady: Katie Le Noa
Highest placed Jersey Crew: Ross Le Noa & Domonic Volante
Highest placed Guernsey crew: Chris Torode & Nick Saunders
Fairfield 1st overseas crew: Mark Kelly & Will Atkins
VacLoad Peter Rayner Handbrake Award: Richard Le Marquand
