Robert faces 'real task' to repeat rally result
The leading home crew from last year’s Comprop Guernsey Rally is back for more.
Craig Robert has been a firm fixture of Guernsey’s flagship rally since its foundation in 2018, celebrating his best result yet last year as he co-driver Chris Guille finished as the top domestic crew, won the FWD2 class and placed sixth overall. Not bad for the number 15 seeds.
Robert admits that backing up that result this year would be ‘a real, real task’.
But ahead of the fifth edition getting under way tonight, he told the Guernsey Press Sport Podcast just how great it is that the island has its own rally.
Podcast: Hear the full interview with Craig Robert on this week's Guernsey Press Sport Podcast
‘Having that over here, certainly, is a bit of a boost,’ he said.
‘It doesn’t make it any easier – I mean it’s still a real challenge to try and be competitive with everyone that’s around, but it being local and it being on your doorstep is quite nice.
‘It’s kind of weird waking up in the morning in your own bed, not in a hotel room, and going out and doing the rally.’
Robert highlighted the stop-start nature of the new stages, as opposed to the more flowing routes last year that seemed to play in their favour.
‘I still think the stages are really, really good and I’m sure that we’ll have an absolute blast and really enjoy it,’ he added.
They will be just one of the 34 crews vying for placings over the two days of competition.
Jersey’s Ross Le Noa has known nothing other than winning in his time as a Guernsey Rally competitor, but he returns this year alongside a new co-driver in Christina Holley.
Another very capable Jersey crew, that of Jeremy Baudains and James Ollivro, make their return after missing last year’s edition.
Dale Crowsley and Will Rutherford crashed out last year but will return with a vengeance and a Ford Escort to match those of the top Jersey drivers.
Crowsley and Rutherford are running as home favourites at No. 3.
The remaining entries include a good balance of the two largest Channel Islands and also a very strong UK crew of Andy Corner and Adrian Camp.
