Welcome to the (late) September Newsletter for the 2022 Roberts Garages Jersey Rally – the 39th year but the 38th running of this great close road rally. It’s been a busy time for the organising committee and thanks to them all for their hard work as volunteers dedicated to making this prestigious motorsport event a great success. Now one of the oldest closed road rallies in Great Britain.
Many hours of work have gone into ensuring that the manpower is in place – including the “Orange Army” of volunteer marshals supplemented this year by senior qualified rally marshals from the UK, an army of timekeepers to ensure the smooth running to schedule, and many other officials. Alongside the organisation of all these resources, teams have been out and about ensuring all the road closure notices are in place whilst the Equipment Team led by Michel du Feu has completed all its stock-taking and is collating the equipment required for each section of the Roberts Garages Jersey Rally – and the transport team to ensure it is all in the right place at the right time and then returned to safe keeping.
Time schedules have been tested and agreed and the competitors will shortly be receiving their “final instructions” including the eagerly awaited seeded entry list (on line only in order to reduce wasteage of course). We’ve been permitted an early preview and it’s no surprise that Ross Le Noa and Domonic Volante will start the event with No. 1 on the powerful Millington engined Escort Mk II. These two will be going for the “Triple Crown” again this year – having won the Guernsey Rally and L’Etacq Attack already in 2022. Former rally winner and experiened driver Jeremy Baudains with James Ollivro on the notes are seeded at No.2 – again Millington power in their Escort Mark II. A promising 2021 debut for the Fiesta R5 of Lee Vivian/Will Rutherford didn’t result in a finish with the car “wedged” above the German Road – time for them to restore their honours this year from seeding 3. Sam Touzel and Aaron Nicolle also feature in the top entries – this year at seed 4 whilst Dave Oliveira/Victor Nobrega at 6 feature another Mk II Escort. An exciting addition to this year’s entry are former winners Steve Leonard and Sion Humphreys. They’ve been burning the midnight oil to prepare their Mk II Escort and are certainly the dark horses this is year.
We are delighted to welcome many many visitors to Jersey for the 38th running of the Jersey Rally. This includes many returning competitors from England, Wales and Guernsey and many newcomers as well – plus the many spectators and enthusiasts who make the regular pilgrimage to our Island. It’s been a while since a visitor won the rally but there will be a few giving it their best shot.
The Jersey Evening Post is publishing a full supplement for the Roberts Garages Jersey Rally on Saturday 1 October 2022 – be sure to obtain your copy to keep up with all the details of this year’s event. You can pick this excellent publication up at all Roberts Garages forecourts as well – and at the Rally HQ at the RJA&HS from Thursday morning 6 October 2022.
We are also delighted to announce that we are returning to a ceremonial start back in St Helier again this year – in the area of La Fregate. The rally cars will assemble from about 12.00 on the waterfront area and will then move to the ceremonial start next to La Fregate – with the first car due to leave at 12.25 – it will be great to see the crowds coming out to support their favourites and give them a big send off.
This month we also highlight, with thanks, not just our Title Sponsor – Roberts Garages – but also the individual Stage Sponsors some of whom have partnered with the Jersey Rally for many years. Thanks to them all we will have the Romerils Maufant Stage, the Elite DPFCI Grouville Stage, the LCV Interiors Archirondel Stage and the Derek Warwick Honda St Clement Stage on the Friday. On Saturday, we move to Roberts Garages Greve Stage and SGB Plant Hire St Ouen Stage in the morning and Sign Solutions Trinity Stage and Fetch & Karrie St Saviour Stage for the closing afternoon runs.
The Rally HQ will be open from Thursday morning at RJA &HS with crews setting up their service areas for the event. Scrutineering takes place on Thursday evening – checking that all safety equipment is correct and that the cars are fit to race. On Friday morning, the service area will be equally busy as the teams prepare for the event – with cars leaving for the ceremonial start in batches from approx. 11.45. The action continues at Rally HQ throughout Friday and Saturday as the cars return for regular service halts – and a very welcome supper break on Friday before the evening stages. Public parking is available and please respect the marshals’ instructions in respect of parking and general access – all intended for safety.
You will see many of the sponsors also exhibiting in the Rally Hall Fanzone at RJA&HS – so be sure to go and admire the Honda’s on display with Derek Warwick Honda, or the range of SGB Hire equipment, Sign Solutions display – and the opportunity to buy Jersey Rally merchandise from them; and a fine display from Elite DPF CI. Catering is also provided from several outlets and “Donut Worry be Happy” if you have a sweeter tooth!
At the end of the event on Saturday afternoon, the winners will be congratulated at the ceremonial finish at RJA&HS although the trophy presentations all take place at the fabulous Rally Dinner & Awards Ceremony that evening at the Merton Hotel.
Final word of appreciation this month goes to all our fellow Islanders, residents on the stages, the relevant authorities, the honorary police and good friends of the Jersey Rally for their support and tolerance of this classic motorsport event. It’s been a herculean effort through the year which everyone intends to lead to a fantastic motorsport event in this wonderful Island.
