MOTORSPORT enthusiasts can rejoice, as the Jersey International Motoring Festival (JIMF) has returned, bigger and better than ever for its 25th anniversary this week.
“This event is massive for Jersey, as it’s a shop window for the 62 other motorsport events in Jersey this year,” said JIMF event and marketing coordinator Alex Salmon.
“People come over for this one big event and realise how much goes on here, prompting many to return. Our event really plants the seed with tourists, and cements Jersey as a destination for motorsport.”
There has been great change in the event’s 25-year history, starting off as “a two day hillclimb with minimal activities on the park” to now becoming “a show with something for everyone, generating a huge amount of interest and loads of entries.”
Presenting eye-catching vehicles, high-octane displays and superbike champions in attendance, spectators are set for a good show.
Festivities started last night, where a special JB001 Action Movie re-enactment was set to open the thrills, including a Goldfinger Aston Martin DB5, bikes and police Range Rovers.
Following that spectacle, the Rolling Roadshow offered an insight into what the crowds should expect over this bumper weekend, giving drivers and riders the opportunity to showcase their vehicles under Victoria Avenue’s lights, in a mixture of cavalcades and high speed demonstrations.
Set to headline the four-wheeled entrants is the legendary 1984 Jaguar XJR-5, a true icon of the sport. Its thunderous V12 engine formed the foundation for Jaguar’s endurance racing dominance, where they won the 24 Hours of Le Mans, two 24 Hours of Daytona contests and three World Sportscar Championships, between 1987 and 1991.
That will be accompanied by a group of stunning bikes holding great historical significance, including the iconic 1994 Ducati 916 Strada, championship-winning 1992/93 Ducati 888 Corse and a Seeley Matchless G50, boasting a second-place finish in the 1970 German Grand Prix among its racing achievements.
Other two-wheeled icons making an appearance will be MotoGP’s 2006 Ducati GP6, Grand Prix bikes in the Yamaha YZR500 and Honda’s RS250 and NSR250, as well as British Superbike’s HM Plant Honda CBR1000RR.
These speed machines will be ridden by some of the world’s best, including 2018 British Superbike Champion and World Superbike winner Leon Haslam, current World Supersport Championship front runner Tom Booth-Amos and JHP Racing’s John and Rick Hackett, whose expertise has supported numerous British and World Superbike teams and riders.
Welcoming riders of such a standard should whet appetites. Haslam’s achievements speak for themselves, and he’ll be riding one of the “Airwaves” Ducati 99R that he raced during his 2006 and 2007 British Superbike campaigns, in which he secured runner-up and third place finishes respectively.
Booth-Amos’ CV is nothing short of impressive, including a MotoGP Moto3 class stint, a runner-up finish in 2021’s WSSP300 Championship and championing the 2023 WSSP Challenge among other accomplishments, with his fearless racing and spectacular wheelies solidifying himself as a fan favourite.
There will be an opportunity to meet Haslam, Booth-Amos and JHP Racing in person, on Saturday’s Q&A at JDC’s Music Stage, set to occur from 11.30am- 12.15pm.
2025 marks another important milestone, as this is the first year the States of Jersey have supported the festival, with their financial aid being of great assistance, according to Salmon: “The £5,000 helped us bring over the superbikes, which is great to see.
“This means that we’re now able to grow the event further in places. Hopefully this won’t be the last time as we have much bigger plans than what we’re doing at the moment.
“There’s plenty of examples around the world where motorsport helps governments bring people in.
Alex salmon
“It’s a free event for Jersey’s general public to attend. Nowadays there’s not many of them around, so it’s great to bring to the public.”
Competitive racing is set to kick off tonight, from 6.30pm, with the Moonlight Sprint, after some hallowed vehicles take to the road once again for entertaining Demo Runs.
In a variety of classic and modern cars and bikes, racers will compete and give it their all on the quarter-mile closed road, clocking speeds of up to 120mph in their pursuit for speed.
As the sun sets in the bay, the runs continue into the night along Victoria Avenue, set to carry on until 10.30pm.
Vital strides are being made toward proving local motorsport has a sustainable future, with event organisers offering synthetic sustainable petrol for all competitors, UK-made from agricultural by-products and containing less than 1% ethanol content.
This has been made possible with support from Rubis in the community and a government initiative, and is available for competitors at First Tower’s ‘The Fuel’.
Tomorrow brings the heat to Westmount Hill, as competitors in a variety of vehicles will begin to tackle Westmount Hillclimb’s tight and twisty course, set for a 10am start.
This speedy affair will be a whopping two-day event, set to finish at 6pm on Saturday before picking up again at 10am on Sunday, going all the way through to conclude at 4pm.
Alongside the hillclimb’s concluding stage, Sunday’s finale will see the Active Arena’s return, combining Jersey’s motorsport culture into one show, set to begin at 10am, continuing until 4.30pm.
With burnouts, donuts, wheelies and more, participants will look to amaze on the arena circuit, turning it up for a fitting swansong to the Channel Island’s biggest date on the motorsport calendar.
Organisers hope to have something for everyone. “Now, it’s really become a show for everyone, not just motorsport enthusiasts,” said Salmon.
“We’ll have a live music stage running on Saturday and Sunday, sponsored by JDC up at the top park, where a number of bands will play throughout the day.
“There’ll also be loads of lovely cars on static display, so if you’re not too interested in the sporting side there’ll still be some great exhibits.”
Despite all the events going on, Salmon’s aims for the event are clear: “I think the aim is to ensure everyone has a great time, and we can provide something to the Island.
“For our local population, it’s nice to provide an event, getting people out into the community.
“We also bring in many visitors, aiming for them to put money into the local economy as we don’t charge admission fees, so we try to support the visitor economy as best we can.”
When asked for event highlights, Salmon was spoilt for choice: “There’s definitely a few highlights. For me, it’s always nice to see the single-seater’s out there, with one participating in the sprint.
“There’ll be some older vehicles as well, such as a 1930s Bentley that will be running, and then there’s everything in between, with the Jaguar (XJR-5) looking intriguing.”
For all event timings, as well as the JDC Music Stage line-ups, static displays and stall information, check jimf.je.
