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UNITED KINGDOM drivers hold the upper hand in the Paperclix Jersey Rally after yesterday’s stages resulted in the exit of the champion, Jersey’s Chris Le Bonniec as well as Dean Le Bailly.Eian Pritchard, in his four-wheel-drive Subaru Impreza, has a 26-second lead over Steve Fleck’s Subaru WRC, for the start of today’s stages – but Jerseyman Jeremy Baudains, a former winner of the annual event, is just a further seven seconds adrift in third.Once again the lanes of Jersey and mechanical gremlins took their toll on the starting field of 74 rally cars – with 21 making their exit.Top seed Le Bonniec went out after suffering engine failure in the former Colin McRae Focus, but he also had to complete several stages without lights as the alternator belt had failed.This resulted in a slight bump, but damage was minor and it was the engine failure that put paid to the champion and co-driver Richard Hollick’s campaign.Another major home hope had crashed out earlier – Dean Le Bailly leaving the action on the Trinity stage.There is, however, a great deal of entertainment still left in the 53-strong field.Certainly the 500-plus plus crowd that gathered on the new Mount Bingham stage last night were not left disappointed.The crews now head out west to complete stages in St Mary and St Ouen before finishing the day with stages in St John and St Peter.Island fans will be hoping that Baudains and navigator Ian Blandin in their Escort Mk II can rise to the challenge presented by the two four-wheel-drive cars in front.They certainly knows the Jersey lanes well enough.It’s sure to be a great battle of local knowledge versus immense experience and superior machinery.

WITH scrutineering and noise testing of the 75 cars completed, the 22nd Jersey Rally got under way this lunchtime in New Street.There are four stages of the Paperclix-sponsored event today, including a new ‘spectator’ stage from the TA headquarters on Mount Bingham, up South Hill and along to La Collette which is due to start at 6.30 pm and will include live commentary.Before that the drivers will have already completed stages in Trinity and St Martin and the stage from Bellozanne Valley to Waterworks Valley will be run simultaneously with the one on Mount Bingham.This year the rally is part of two UK championships, which has ensured the capacity field.Last year’s winners Chris Le Bonniec and Richard Hollick are in a hired ex-Colin McRae Ford Focus WRC.Steve Fleck from the UK will be driving a WRC Subaru Impreza and there are also a couple of Metro 6R4 group B rally cars taking part as well.The action starts again tomorrow morning in St Ouen and St Mary with St John and St Peter following in the afternoon.In all the competitors who finish will have covered 100 competitive miles.Clerk of the course Terry Gorvel is hoping the weather is kind – although the forecast is not good – but he believes the event is set to be one of the best ever.’There is a great mixture of fast flowing wide roads as well as Jersey’s infamous tight country lanes with tight hairpins.It remains to be seen whether the top challengers from the UK will have the pace on Jersey roads to take on the likes of Le Bonniec and Dean Le Bailly.’Spectators are in for a treat as the best drivers battle it out over the weekend,’ he said.