Other highlights on the hot tarmac were Jackie Le Cheminant’s fast run for women’s honours, another record from talented teenager AJ Gregg and winning motorcyclist Colin de Jersey’s long-awaited personal best, all in the first Guernsey Kart and Motor Club-organised climb of the season.
Brehaut led the way from the first run in his new Empire Wraith and achieved the fastest time of the day, 28.53sec., on the second.
Matt Bougourd claimed runner-up with a 29.18, while the usually unbeatable Nick Saunders struggled with gear issues and settled for third on 29.78.
Fresh off what he believes to be his first ‘Valdees’ FTD, having previously won at the Reservoir, Brehaut anticipates some exciting battles against such drivers – plus the absent Tim Tulie – this season.
‘Pleased to get the FTD,’ Brehaut said.
‘You’ve got to take it when you can, when you’re up against opposition like Nick.’
Having finished just 0.18sec. off his outright personal best, he is also confident in his own race against the clock.
‘Second time at Le Val des Terres in a new car, so I was really happy. There’s more to come with it.’
Scott Rayson achieved a 29.82 on his foray into one-litre racing cars as the fourth and final competitor to crack 30sec.
One racer with eyes rightly on that 30sec. barrier is Jackie Le Cheminant.
She posted a swift 30.46, just outside her PB, early on to get the nod on closest rival and women’s record-holder Emma Rayson. Rayson settled for second in 31.30.
In the karts, Chris Law came close to brother Adam’s 250 gearbox twin record with a 31.06, just 0.10sec. off the mark set last year.
The biggest four-wheeled class of the day, the modified limited production cars 1,401 to 2,000, included a great battle of Le Pages.
Jamie Le Page posted 34.44 on his final run to relegate his own rivalling Adam, who is not closely related but shares the surname, and his 34.64 to second in a busy class featuring 11 competitors.
‘So many people have come up to us and shared their interest to the class, especially the battle me and Adam are having this year,’ Jamie said afterwards.
‘It’s one to watch.’
After well over four decades in the sport, de Jersey put on an impressive show of speed and finally took down his PB with a 33.63 fourth run on his 450cc TM SMK, before following it up with a 33.55 in the next effort.
He needed to be at or near his best to hold off rival biker Jamie Bacon, who showed his own pace with a 33.88.
And there was little to split Leigh Digard (34.20), Reece Hicks (34.22) and Casey Mackrell (34.33) in the following three positions for the stacked motorcycles 351 to 500cc class.
De Jersey doubled that up by tying Harry Mann in the 126 to 250cc class, where both posted 34.93, after which the younger rider crashed out and required hospital treatment on his shoulder.
Mann had also challenged Gregg in the 125s, despite initially facing bike issues, and went very close to the old record with a 35.60.
But he was surpassed by the in-form youngster, who took just three runs to beat the existing record and then went under it thrice more, peaking with a 35.21.
Gregg had stunned with a Motorcycle and Car Club record of 35.99 in his last outing and can now claim to be the fastest ever 125 rider up ‘Valdees’ – within 14 months of his debut.
