Guernsey Press

Summers storms to new hill record

THE all-time Le Val des Terres record fell to a red-hot display from Alex Summers and his DJ Firestorm race car on Saturday.

Published
The new outright hill record holder Alex Summers. (Picture by Andrew Le Poidevin, 31044100)

Summers treated spectators to a 26.56sec. FTD at a sizzling National Hill Climb, slashing 0.43sec. from Scott Moran’s marker set seven years ago.

A new record was very much forecasted – almost as certain as the summer sun – given how the British hill climb scene has moved on since Guernsey’s last hosting in 2019.

But actually achieving that clearly meant a great deal for the English driver.

‘It’s just a bit special,’ he said.

‘I think getting the record at any hill is an amazing feeling.

‘That tagline of fastest ever, it sounds special, and it’s nice to be a part of that and a part of history.’

That record time had occurred in the first of two British Championship run-offs, with fellow visitor Wallace Menzies uncannily posting 26.57 on both occasions.

Menzies won the latter as Summers failed to match his earlier excellence.

That one-hundredth made all the difference for Summers, who will be the one with his name in the record book, but the humble driver simply thanked the Guernsey Motorcycle and Car Club for a delightful day.

‘It’s nice for everyone here who comes to watch to see that record go, and nearly go twice,’ he added.

‘Really great for everyone and I’m hugely grateful that we get to come here and the club puts up with us every season.’

  • More in Monday's Guernsey Press.