JERSEY star Ross Le Noa tightened his grip on the Little Big Group Guernsey Rally with a stunning seventh consecutive victory — once again proving untouchable on sister-isle soil.
Co-driven by Derek Le Bailly, Le Noa steered his fearsome Ford Escort Mk II through 24 punishing stages across two days of torrential rain and fierce winds to seal a commanding 57-second win.
Fifteen crews from the Jersey Motorcycle & Light Car Club made the trip, tackling Guernsey’s notoriously tight and technical lanes in front of hardy spectators who lined the closed roads despite near-monsoon conditions.
Friday fightback
It was far from straightforward.
Ed Fossey, alongside Guernseyman Will Rutherford in the rapid Proton Satria Millington, burst out of the blocks with three stage wins to snatch a five-second lead. Le Noa hit back immediately with three fastest times of his own to keep the pressure firmly on.
British champion Damian Cole, co-driven by Sarnian Ian Hislop, slotted into third early on but found the slippery lanes unforgiving.
Drama struck after dark when Fossey’s car cut out, costing around 50 seconds and handing Le Noa control. By the overnight halt, Jersey crews locked out the top three — Le Noa leading from Darry Morris and Kieran Gregory’s four-wheel-drive Skoda, with Fossey recovering to third.
Storm Saturday showdown
Saturday brought even worse conditions — heavy winds and driving rain — but Fossey refused to back down, launching an all-out assault with 11 fastest stage times from 14.
It wasn’t enough.
Le Noa’s relentless consistency saw him extend his advantage and secure victory, with Fossey second and Dave Oliveira completing the podium a further 1min 20sec adrift. Morris held fourth and claimed 4WD class honours.
Six Jersey crews finished inside the top 10 — a statement of the island’s strength in depth.
Standout performances
Nick Duquemin and Phil Ferbrache flew the Guernsey flag highest with fifth overall.
Further down the field, there were strong class results for Dave Truscott and Andrew Simpson (12th overall), while Paul Vibert and Nick Le Masurier topped their class in 13th.
Tim Alderson and first-time co-driver Mark Galvin impressed with 14th overall after what they described as a “baptism of fire”, and Keith and Matthew Pinel delighted fans with 16th — their best Guernsey result to date.
Late entrants Paul Carre and Zak Simpson climbed from a seeding of 40 to 25th, while Nathan Nicolle and Romany Stephens recovered from an off-road moment to finish 26th.
More than just a rally
Alongside the competitors, a strong contingent of Jersey volunteer officials made the trip north — underlining the enduring inter-island collaboration that keeps these flagship motorsport events thriving.
For the seventh year running, Jersey claimed the silverware. But in conditions that tested cars, crews and courage alike, inter-island rallying itself was the real winner.