West defies suspension and gearshift concerns to take Jersey Rally win
Organiser: Jersey Motor Cycle & Light Car Club When: October 11-12 Where: Jersey, Channel Islands Championships: ACSMC; ASWMC Sealed Surface; RAC Historic Asphalt Stages: 28 Starters: 80
Peugeot 306 Maxi driver Chris West claimed a hard-fought Jersey Rally win by 43 seconds from 2018 winners Ross le Noa/domonic Volante.
In increasingly wet conditions,
West and co-driver Robbie Hannah chased down Le Noa throughout Saturday morning, overhauling the Ford Escort Mk2 driver on SS18, Greve de Lecq 3. Despite a late scare when he knocked the rear suspension out of alignment, West claimed the first-ever event win by a front-wheeldrive car.
Friday afternoon’s dry stages in Trinity and Grouville were the scene of 2017 winners Steve Leonard/sion Humphreys going head-to head with Le Noa. The two drivers stayed less than three seconds apart until Leonard broke clear on SS6 to lead by 18s in his Escort Mk2.
The high pace claimed several potential front runners including Andy Corner/ade Camp (Peugeot
205, gearbox), Gary Le Coadou/bill Paynter (Hyundai i20 WRC, broken handbrake) and Martin Waters/ Shaun Layland (BMW 325i E30, broken driveshaft).
The lead battle intensified as rain fell on Friday evening in St Clement and Archirondel and the usually consistent Leonard crashed out on SS12, gifting Le Noa the overnight lead from West with Jeremy Baudains/ James Ollivro (Escort Mk2) third.
As conditions deteriorated on Saturday, West overcame an early gearshift problem to reel in Le Noa, with his co-driver admitting Le Noa “was pushing very hard” during the battle but it wasn’t enough to win.
Mark Kelly/neil Colman finished third after starting cautiously on Friday and climbing from 23rd after SS1. Their Escort Mk2’s extinguisher system initially failed scrutineering but a local competitor sportingly loaned and helped fit a new system.
Baudains claimed fourth and won class D in his 30th Jersey Rally, finishing ahead of Darryl Morris/ Steve Gully. Their Escort Mk2 thumped a granite wall in Grouville and later, they successfully appealed an illegal servicing penalty to win class C.
Dan Corner/mark Regan (Peugeot 205) repaired a battery lead problem on their way to sixth overall and second in class D, while seventh overall and class E winners Neil Cotillard/helier Lucas (Subaru Impreza) finished SS12 with a shredded tyre after hitting a wall. When their wheel brace broke they had to drive to service on the rim.
Class A winners Stuart Thompson/ Aimee White’s main problem was damp in the driver’s false leg, while Dai Roberts/daniel Petrie dominated class B despite clutch and driveshaft problems.
Results
1 Chris West/robbie Hannah (Peugeot 306 Maxi) 2hrs9m39s; 2 Ross Le Noa/domonic Volante (Ford Escort Mk2) +43s; 3 Mark Kelly/ Neil Colman (Escort Mk2); 4 Jeremy Baudains/james Ollivro (Escort Mk2); 5 Darryl Morris/steve Gully (Escort Mk2); 6 Dan Corner/ Mark Regan (Peugeot 205); 7 Neil Cotillard/ Helier Lucas (Subaru Impreza); 8 Steve Ellis/jamie Vaughan (Escort Mk2); 9 Pete Rayner/theresa Fossey (Escort Mk2); 10 Mark Syvret/chris Fox (Escort Mk1).
Class winners: Stuart Thompson/aimee White (Vauxhall Nova); Dai Roberts/ Daniel Petrie (Peugeot 205 GTI); Morris/ Gully; Baudains/ Ollivro; Cotillard/ Lucas; Craig Robert/
Karl Marshall (Honda Civic).