RACERS Stuart and Theresa Fossey had to escape to England before they could win their home Island’s annual rally.

This weekend they made their sixth attempt just a year after moving to Berkshire, and at last they were successful as they took the 23rd title by a comfortable three-minute margin in their Talbot Sunbeam 1600 – the first time a car with a 1600 cc engine has won.

As they sprayed the champagne at the finish of the Paperclix Jersey Rally on the Parade on Saturday, the happy couple beamed their delight, as their best previous placing was fifth three years ago.

They then decided to up sticks for the UK so that they could indulge their passion for the sport more regularly.

‘We went there so that we could rally more,’ said a delighted Stuart.

‘It was just too expensive to be travelling all the time – and now it’s paid off.

We’re both so pleased, though it’s not quite sunk in yet.

The car was perfect, it didn’t miss a beat.

‘Conditions were a bit dodgy last night, but today it dried up a bit and we just went for it.’ Of the original field of 73, only 24 finished, with another 11 competing in the consolation Trophy Rally – many crashing out in the damp and slippery conditions on Friday, with the autumn leaves on the road exacting a heavy toll.

Last year’s victor, Steve Fleck – a late entry in a borrowed car – was one of the Friday casualties, and overnight leader and 2003 winner Chris Le Bonniec, who was aiming for his fourth victory in this event, crashed out on the first stage on Saturday morning.

Others suffered mechanical failure over the seven stages and 119 miles around the Island – the La Blinerie stage was dropped for reasons which clerk of the course Terry Gorvel declined to reveal.

Second was James Hansford and co-driver Phil Morin’s best-ever result driving their Mk II Escort – seven of the of top ten cars were Escorts, while another Jersey pair, Mark Syvret and Chris Fox, also in an Escort, were third.

Said clerk of the course Gorvel: ‘It’s gone brilliantly.

Nobody has been hurt apart from a driver who broke a couple of fingers when he clipped a hedge.

I’m delighted it’s gone so well.’