While Tim Tulie and Nick Saunders renewed their rivalry up front in bank holiday Monday’s Le Val des Terres hill climb – with the former taking a welcome head-to-head victory on this occasion – the improving competitors behind them are making their own impressions.
Queripel was one such driver who excelled in the windswept but sunny Guernsey Kart and Motor Club event, having shifted over from autocross relatively recently.
The 2.3-litre Subaru Impreza driver made light work of a nearly decade-old record in the modified limited production cars unlimited class, going well under Ian Le Sauvage’s mark of 34.58sec. on every timed run.
He gradually shaved off fine margins to peak with a 33.25 on his fourth run, though he backed it up with a 33.27 on his next go. Both were inside his previous best set in the Motorcycle and Car Club’s season opener.
‘I am absolutely over the moon with the result and it was great to finally have a dry hill-climb event,’ he said.
‘My ambition would be to enter British Hillclimb events but continue to lower my times at our local events and progress while having fun.
‘Our local motorsport clubs are fantastic to be involved in, where I get to race alongside good friends and family.’
True to that, he often competes in the same events as his younger brother Jamie, who had also made his mark on the sands of Chouet.
‘Motorsport has always been a part of my life from a young age, where I went from motocross to autocross and now tarmac events,’ he added.
‘Myself and my brother Jamie raced alongside each other at autocross, both winning championships when it used to be very competitive, so it’s great to be racing alongside him on tarmac events nowadays.
‘I guess it was inevitable I was going to do some sort of motorsport.
‘Most importantly I’d like to thank my sponsors and everyone involved who make these great events happen, as they are thoroughly enjoyable to be part of.'
Karter Adam Law also sped into the record books.
A similarly fantastic fourth run of 30.88 enabled him to dethrone Adam Le Ray as the senior gearbox 125 open record-holder, with his other efforts falling just short of the required mark.
The battle for fastest time of the day came down to the expected two race car drivers.
However, Tulie in his one-litre Empire Evo 00 had set the pace, opening with a 28.32 first timed run.
Saunders put in a consistent series but never went quicker than his 28.52 second run.
Ian Le Messurier went third quickest with a 29.87 in the sports libra category, ducking under 30sec. five times all told. Brother Paul just missed out on that mark with a 30.09 best effort.
Meanwhile, Jackie Le Cheminant secured women’s honours with a 32.12 in her one-litre OMS, ahead of Paula Williams’ 33.29 in her big-engined non-transaxle special.
In a duel between two motorcycling veterans, Leigh Digard overcame proven rivalry from Colin de Jersey to pinch top spot.
Digard made the better start to the day and put down a 33.81 on the third run, which enabled him to edge de Jersey by 0.15sec.
Young Jamie Bacon’s 34.46 put him third in that busy motorcycles 351 to 500 class.
Competition proved tight among the remaining riders, with Josh Pinchemain (35.00) edging out Kieran Robilliard and Harry Mann (both 35.10) as well as Russ Goubert (35.14).
Competitors got up to seven timed runs, even with the odd hold-up.
There had been a dramatic crash over the line for Dexter Le Sauvage in the mid-afternoon.
Thankfully, although his car sustained significant damage, he was relatively unharmed.
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