JERSEY was very well represented at the Hills Ford Stages Rally held on the closed roads of the “Three Shires” – the last event for entrants before the Roberts Garages Jersey Rally.
With a ceremonial start in Ledbury Town Centre, the crews had two short sharp stages to complete the Saturday afternoon.
Lead Jersey seed Sam Touzel (lying sixth in the national Protyre Asphalt Championship) with experienced English co-driver Ross Whittock, was pleased with third overall at this point, building on his excellent podium at the previous championship event.
The second Fiesta Rally 2, James Labey, again with an experienced English co-driver, Sion Cunliffe, was 13th overall, just four seconds ahead of Darryl Morris and Steve Gully, debuting their Skoda Fabia R5 in the English lanes, their first event as a team with the new car.
Next in the running order, came Jersey-born Ed Fossey with Welshman Gareth Parry on “the notes” 24th overnight for their first outing for two years in the powerful Proton Satria Millington.
Close behind was the Channel Islands crew of Guernseyman Dale Crowsley and 2023 Jersey winner Robbie Hannah in their 2.5L Escort.
Jeremy Baudains, also in a 2.5L Escort, lay 57th overall after a challenging first two stages.
The second day dawned bright and sunny but weather was to serve up a twist for the Jersey crews later in the day.
Touzel continued his determined drive, aiming for maximum championship points at this eighth round.
However, competition was fierce at the front and, at lunchtime, he was lying fifth.
Fossey had a stellar drive to climb to seventh by lunchtime, a huge improvement on his seeding of 51. Behind Fossey, Labey now lay 11th.
Outside the top ten but making good, progress Morris and Gully continued their progress with the new Skoda Fabia, in lanes similar to Jersey.
Crowley and Hannah continued to enjoy the stages with 29th overall as leading CI rear-wheel drive crew at the time. Former Rally winner, Jeremy Baudains, with Fiona Crump, consolidated his position.
Come the final afternoon and the second run of five stages, Touzel and Whittock suffered suspension failure. Despite this, Touzel has finished fifth overall in the Protyre Asphalt Championship having completed the eight rounds – a great feat in his first year at this level.
Touzel spoke after the race, saying: “I thought it was an outstanding performance from all the local crews.
“I am a little gutted that I didn’t complete the rally when I’d worked so hard to be in the fight for a podium all weekend.
“We came round a chicane and there was a bit of gravel that caught us just off line and meant we hit the bank just a bit too hard.
“But we’re all fit and healthy and ready to come back and fight for the Jersey Rally 2024 next month.
“The competition is going to be massive, but I’m really up for it this year.
“I’ve come close in recent times so I’ll be giving it everything I’ve got to be standing on top of the podium.”
Labey’s final runs in the dry saw him close in on Fossey. Rain fell as Fossey went to the start line and, at the end of the event, there was just one second separating the two teams.
Labey ended up taking sixth overall in the modern Fiesta and Fossey seventh overall and winner of class B14.
The Islander became just the second Jerseyman to win the Protyre Asphalt Junior Driver award for the three championship events he has campaigned this year.
Darryl Morris and Steve Gully secured a very credible fifth in class in their four-wheel drive Skoda Fabia R5 turbo, as they continue to build experience.
Jersey’s leading rear-wheel driver emerged as Jeremy Baudains in the powerful 2.5L Escort.
Sadly, the mixed CI team of Dale Crowsley and Robbie Hannah now have a challenge on their hands to prepare for the Jersey Rally, as the car incurred damage after a crash into a ditch.
Attention now turns to the Roberts Garages MFG Jersey Rally in mid-October.
