16 teams travel to take on Jersey Rally

Friday 13 October 2023

Guernsey teams have headed across the water to compete in the 40th annual Roberts Garages Jersey Rally.

The event began today and around 90 cars will compete across 24 stages and eight sections.

Around 30 teams from England, Wales and Scotland are due to line up while a further 16 are making the trip from Guernsey.

Pictured: Fans watch the 2022 Jersey Rally.

Organising Committee chair Richard Falle, said: “We’ve had a tremendous level of interest. The rather immediate take-up of entries has got us around the 90 entries mark.

“We’ve got some nice touches this year with the inaugural rally winner from 1983, Welshman Tony Morgan, returning with an exact replica of his winning Vauxhall Chevette from that year, which will be on show at the ceremonial start on Friday.” 

Guernsey’s own rally will not take place in 2024 as planned after Environment & Infrastructure pulled the plug on any new major events that require road closures for at least a year.

One of the factors was dealing with public concerns.

In contrast, Falle praised the support they got from Jersey residents.

“We have to go round to every single householder, around 1,800 people, who will be affected by the road closures. It’s a mammoth event to organise. We try and accommodate their needs as much as possible, but their response and support for the event is always fantastic."

“One of the things we’re acutely aware of as a club and an event is our environmental footprint and how we can mitigate that. We’ve been working with Carbon Positive Motorsport, who have kindly funded the cost of offsetting the carbon emissions from our officials’ cars. CPM ambassadors Ashleigh Morris and Emma Morrison are also competing as a team in the race, which is great.”

He described the event as ”a labour of love”. 

“Whether you’re preparing a car to race or volunteering to help organise, there’s an immense amount of love and effort that goes into it. 

“The work of the volunteers and the committee especially, year by year, it’s phenomenal. It’s absolutely humbling to see that and be a part of it. I can’t wait for it to start now.”