Closed seafront gives motoring fans space to enjoy themselves

ALTHOUGH the seafront was closed yesterday, there were plenty of vehicles on the road thanks to the Guernsey Motorsport Festival.

The Le Cheminant family were checking out what was on offer. Mum and dad, Andy and Anne, preferred the older models while their children, Alexander, 9, Aiden, 7, and Aaron,5, preferred the more modern ones. (Pictures by Ben Fiore, 25299898)

From the drift course at North Beach to the island’s first hydrogen-powered car, the festival was an excellent day out for the whole family.

The Le Cheminant family were out with their ‘shopping list’ looking at was on offer.

‘It has been very good to come here and see so many people,’ said dad, Andy, ‘We have enjoyed seeing all of the cars and bikes but the thing is me and mum prefer the older ones but the boys are fans of the newer models.’

‘My favourite was the blue Lamborghini,’ said Alexander, 9.

Could the future of motoring be hydrogen power? Barras Car Centre sales director Paul Guilmoto with the Hyundai ix35 FCEV which it brought to the island to show what was on offer. As yet, there are no hydrogen filling stations here, but the vehicle is capable of 400 miles on one fill. (25299914)

Barras Car Centre has imported the first fully hydrogen powered car to Guernsey.

The Hyundai ix35 FCEV is a hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle and is the first SUV hydrogen car to be sold commercially.

‘We have brought it over here to show islanders what is now on offer,’ said Barras sales director, Paul Guilmoto.

‘Obviously there isn’t a refill station in Guernsey yet but there are some in the UK and they are on sale there.

‘It will do about 400 miles per fill up and to drive it is like any normal car, the pick-up is actually really good. It is a phenomenal bit of kit and could quite well be the future of motoring as they look for ways other than electric battery and fossil fuel propulsion.’

Bringing a classic element to the event were the organisers of the Sausmarez Park classic car show, The Guernsey Classic Vehicle Club.

‘We like to come down to give a representation of classic vehicles,’ said chairman, John Bichard, ‘We actually had a guy phone up the organisers yesterday, he is over with his classic Alfa on work and he asked if he could put his car with ours.

‘We said of course no problem and now we are introducing him to the club, its brilliant. I’m down here today with my 1960 Austin A40, I only bring her out in the sun, but she is all original except for a respray.’