TRIPLE CROWN FOR LE NOA AND LE BAILLY

9th & 10th October 2026

by Sue Fossey

Ross Le Noa & Derek Le Bailly completed an amazing hat trick with a master class at the 2026 Roberts Garages Jersey Rally – winning the rally for the 3rd time and the “triple crown” of 2026 Guernsey, L’Etacq and Jersey in their powerful 2.5lt Escort.

Friday started with good conditions although stage 1 started with spectator management swiftly addressed by the volunteers. Rally rules gave “notional times” to the top 5 enabling young star Ollie Le Bailly to record the fastest time – definitely a sign of his future results! 4 stage wins followed for Le Noa as he settled into his stride. Leading 4WD maestro Darryl Morris & Steve Gully focussed on 3rd overall, anticipating an exciting race as the weather deteriorated for the night stages. Le Bailly gave notice with his first 2nd overall stage time, after the front runners were “red-flagged”. Leading team Paul and Jamie Trebert, pre-event favourites for the Guernsey Award, also had a very strong Friday regularly featuring in the top 5, having worked hard to develop their team work as they aim towards the first Guernsey resident win in 2027 perhaps.

Hardy spectators were treated to an electric spectacle as the Rozel and St Catherine evening stages lived up to their fearsome reputation – very wet and windy conditions favoured the brave, although a few teams were outwitted by the challenging conditions. Morris consistently drove to 3rd whilst Le Noa had the upper hand finishing the night ahead of Steve Leonard. Several Vauxhalls in the lower classes stood out as the crowd pleasers – the 1600cc Vauxhall Nova of Jack Hinton & Conor Carre is well known for giant-beating performances and lived up to its reputation. Spectators were delighted to see the diminutive FWD rocket perfectly suited to the conditions resulting in 7th overall overnight. Visitors Andy Corner & Ade Campo fought valiantly in their Fiesta R200 to 2nd in class and 16th overall ahead of Saturday. The Super1400 Corsa of visitors Simon Hunter & Howard Pridmore set many top 10 times to finish the night in an amazing 8th overall with plenty of promise for Saturday, 2 minutes ahead of Paul Vibert & Nick Le Masurier – their Vauxhall powered Mk I Escort fighting the wet tarmac.

As Friday’s tests completed, Escorts demonstrated they are still the choice with 7 in the top 10 – albeit with the exciting Skoda R5 of Morris & Gully in 3rd spot and the Vauxhalls. Other notable performances at this point came from Steve Ellis with Jerseyman Matt Godfray, Guernseymen Nick Duquemin & Phil Ferbrache managing their potent engine and Michael & Katie Kean in another 2.5 Escort. Popular rallyman Neil Cotillard & David Jardine couldn’t be missed in their brightly liveried Subaru at 11th whilst former winner Jeremy Baudains & Kieran Gregory were picking up their pace.

Saturday dawned with high expectations for the eagerly anticipated Greve and St Ouen stages – both wide open roads and tight twisty lanes to give plenty of variety. First run through Greve started just after 8.00 for the 60 odd crews with plenty of competition still to be had. The stages ran smoothly and were thoroughly enjoyed. Le Noa and Leonard swapped the lead whilst Morris also took stage 18 win to remain in the frame. Le Noa commenced the day with a 28 second lead, chipped away by Leonard although lunch break saw Le Noa leading by some 24 seconds still. Could Leonard fight back through the afternoon?

Le Bailly was hot out the blocks on Saturday morning remaining 4th overall with consistent 3rd stage times, building a healthy lead over the Guernsey Treberts, who maintained a similar space to Ellis. The mighty little Nova of Hinton delivered a masterclass to hold a strong position ahead of Baudains with the Corsa of Hunter continuing to feature strongly as well. Cotillard in the powerful Subaru Impreza achieved a 4th overall stage time during the morning and was delighted to see a great result with 10th overall at the finish.

New competition rules now permit any team failing to finish a section to rejoin the event and enjoy the mileage. Roberts Garages Jersey Rally had 50 finishers, with many stories of overnight work and repairs amongst the dedicated crews. Sadly this did not include two of the front runners – Ed Fossey & Will Rutherford in the potent Proton Satria Millington retired after 2 stages with engine challenges and the electrifying Dave Oliveira & Victor Nobrega (Escort) also retired on Friday night after having set some amazing top times.

Fierce battles took place in the classes. The 1400cc class fell as predicted to Hunter & Pridmore, with sadly only one of the three class Minis finishing – a well deserved 2nd in class for Kevin Richardson & Katrin Herold. Fellow loyal visitors James Weaver & Teresa Butler were rewarded with 3rd in class with the MG ZR.

The 1600cc class fell to Hinton & Carre whilst Tyler Collins & Joao Vieira took 2nd in class 26th overall from a seeding of 59 – some improvement there! 3rd class honours went to Rob & Luke Harrison – some reward for their first rally ever with the Peugeot 106.

An amazing 23 crews finished in the 2000cc class – where the Escort remains the rally car of choice. Brothers-in-law Leonard and Le Bailly (winner of the under 25 years Trophy) led whilst Paul Trebert came 3rd and also claimed the Over 50 Award and fastest Guernsey crew. Steve Ellis was rewarded with 4th in class whilst spectator favourite the Mk I Escort was the choice of Richard Le Marquand & Trevor Rabet – thrilling everyone with their sideways accurate style. Their close battle was with popular team Mark Syvret & Chris Fox also in an immaculate Mk 1.

With such a big class, the spectacle extended to a mighty Lotus Sunbeam of Keith Pinel & Fraser Torode, and also the Welsh driver Roger Holder and Shaun Layland (winners of the coveted Handbrake Trophy), and the latest 208 of David Longfellow & Mark Broadbent. Everyone likes a challenge but David Trustcott & Andrew Simpson took it to another level – building their rally Mazda MX5 in just 4 weeks before the rally! Their reward – 27th overall.

The only ladies team – Mel Romeril & Danielle Pool had a steady event. Romeril has spent a couple of years building up to the Jersey Rally and recruited Danielle Pool to complete the crew (winner of the English Bob Rutherford Navigator Scholarship) – the winners of the Jersey Pearl Trophy and 39th overall.

Finally in this class mention should be made of our favourite visiting octogenarian – Dick Mauger with long term co-driver Geno Gouveia – finished 40th overall, well ahead of their seeding at 70.

The over 2 litre class was dominated by the front-running Escorts but the TR7 V8 of visitor Alastair Flack & Simon May made a welcome return finishing 21st. A large number of BMWs now feature in this class with Nathan Nicolle & Romany Stephens impressing with their handbrake turns. Rally stalwart Robert de St Paer & Christina Holley (Escort Millington) kept themselves in the top 10 individual times as far as possible.

Last class of the event is the 4WD which saw Morris storm to success with 3rd overall, ahead of the Subaru Imprezas of Cotillard and David Smith & Drew Jones and Grant Collins & Ryan Cummins. Another year it appears when 2WD could match 4WD for overall honours but who knows what next year will bring!

One of the most challenging rallies in the United Kingdom has completed again with some 600 volunteer positions and a very active organising committee of the JMC & LCC who can now take a brief rest before planning commences for October 2027! The Mark Lowe Spirit of the Rally award was made to Kerry Torpy, Entries Secretary and always supporting the Committee with a smile on her face. The Organisers are extremely grateful for the support from the many officials, marshals, rescue teams, timekeepers, stewards and all the Island authorities who support the Island’s premier motorsport event each year.

THANK YOU!

Images - Dylan Northcott | North Media