Ed Fossey will is ready and set to take on the Roberts Garage Jersey Rally in his Yokohama Peugeot 208 R2, a car that helped him win the MSA Asphalt Championship R2 category with a round to spare.

After competing in Belgium, Ireland and the UK this year, the Bournemouth University student said he was itching to take part in the Jersey Rally. With a strong family history of rallying, the event is particularly important to Ed, who is a third generation competitor.

“I don’t think I have missed a single rally since I have been born!” Ed joked. “The event is very special to me and has everything a rally should. The whole build-up and atmosphere on the stages is amazing and the compact route with high stage mileage makes it a real challenge. The organisers do a really great job and the residents are fantastic in allowing this great event for the island to happen. And the best thing is, there isn’t much in the way of traveling – and I get to sleep in my own bed at night!”

Video: Ed Fossey and co-driver Will Rutherford on Friday.

Spanning Waterworks Valley, Trinity and Les Platons, the race is a true test fo man and machine. But, although two days and a gruelling night in the Jersey lanes lie ahead for Ed, the young driver says he doesn’t feel under pressure ahead of the departure.

“It’s not part of my championship so I feel really relaxed coming into the rally as I don’t have to think about points or a longer term campaign and I can just go out and get the best result possible.

“I do however have to have some caution as the final round of the asphalt championship is just a fortnight later and I am fighting for a good overall position in that so like with any event you have to have that fine balance.”

Video: Ed finished 13th in last year’s rally. (Googsi Creative)

With Ed’s pace getting ever quicker and in a newer and more powerful machine, the former Victoria College student is hoping to beat last year’s 13th place result with the help of Guernseyman Will Rutherford as his co-driver.

“The Peugeot will be well suited to the lanes and the 1600 class that I will be in will be very competitive so I would like to be mixing it at the front for the class award. I would be disappointed if I wasn’t,” he said.

While most people might consider bad weather a damper on spirits, for Ed, it could be an advantage: “If it rains, it will suit us more, as the bigger, more powerful cars won’t be able to put all the power down, so we could then be fighting for a strong result overall.”

The Jersey Rally will get underway today, leading to some road closures and delays. Hamptonne Country Life Museum will also be closed all day today as the course runs right past the entrance to the museum making it inaccessible. 

After the rally, Ed will travel to northern England for the final round of Protyre MSA Asphalt Rally Championship where he is fighting for a top six championship position and first front-wheel-drive car in the series standings.