Or at least that is what he claimed while preparing to step up to the task at the Peninsula Hotel, but he barely showed it as he joined forces with starter Andy Priaulx and the rest of the rally team to get the motorsport spectacle under way on Friday.
‘Oh man, I’ll tell you, I’ve never been so nervous,’ he said.
‘This is the first time I’ve done the commentary in Guernsey in 11 years.
‘I’m at the end of my commentary time and it’s a pleasure and an honour to do this.’
His witty commentary added further excitement and warmth to a sun-kissed Peninsula – though the inevitable rain came shortly after the ceremonial start.
Corbet’s commentary career started off with hill climbs over three decades ago.
He got to commentate on the British Hillclimb Championship around the UK and even European supercars – doing the English translation at Zandvoort in the Netherlands.
‘I did various things over the years,’ he added.
‘I now do steam shows and beer festivals.’
Corbet has an impressive, multi-disciplined competitive background of his own, including setting hill climb records in his Westfield.
He more recently earned a Pride of Guernsey nomination after partaking in the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride from Poole to Bournemouth and raising the leading sum of over £8,000 for the Movember Foundation – which supports mental health initiatives and research into certain cancers.
This gentleman was only too happy to take up the chance to commentate at the Guernsey Rally.
‘It’s brilliant. It’s lovely to be asked and I was here last time, and I was thinking, a lot of people here don’t know who’s who.
‘If I can introduce them as they’re being flagged off by Andy, at least people will know who they are.’
Owing to his home’s position on the Friday night route, he was rather looking forward to seeing the rally from his own driveway.
‘It’s such a well put-on event.
‘The organisation is just incredible. The positives for Guernsey are just incredible.’
Also living around the course, Guernsey motorsport legend Priaulx – whose racing star son Seb joined him at the start – relished the special spectating opportunity.
‘It does go past our house, which we’re very excited about,’ he said as he led the ceremonial start for a second consecutive year.
‘It’s our local dog walk route and we’ve had many positive feedbacks from all the people in the area that are so excited.
‘I’m glad to see it back.’
