which he describes as 'one of his favourites'
Jardine changes from media co-driver to secure 'in demand' experienced Gordon Noble
Grand Prix pundit and experienced rally driver Tony Jardine will make a determined return to his favourite Irish rally this month, dropping TV commitments to take his place in the Joule Donegal International Rally.
Jardine will tackle over 300km of gruelling tarmac stages from 19 to 21 June with experienced and in-demand Omagh co-driver Gordon Noble, a change from his normal amateur co-drivers. Northern Ireland’s Noble most recently navigated for rising star Alastair Fisher in the 2014 Junior World Rally Championship (JWRC), where they secured a second place finish in the championship and picked up two JWRC wins in Rally France and at Wales Rally GB.
The rally boasts an incredible entry list of over 200 participants across international, national, junior and historic classes, as well as a near 30-strong reserve list, such is the popularity of competing in this illustrious event. The pair will compete in the national class thanks to entrepreneur, Donegal rally driver and Castle Murray House Hotel owner Martin Howley, who has loaned his Mitsubishi Evo IX for the event. The car will be prepared and serviced throughout the event by the KG Motorsport team, led by team owner Kieron Graffin.
While some may recognise him for his current Grand Prix punditry on Sky Sports News, and previously ITV and BBC, Jardine is no stranger to the world of competitive rallying with previous experience at the Donegal Rally, as well as numerous Wales Rally GB events, Swedish and Norwegian World Rally Championship (WRC) rounds and the Arctic Rally. In fact, Jardine has a top 20 finish under his belt at Donegal, when he finished an impressive 14th in the 2012 international rally, with renowned motorsport journalist Maurice Hamilton as co-driver. Tony was also memorably partnered by Amy Williams MBE on Wales Rally GB 2013, where he and the Olympic Skeleton Bob gold medallist finished 26th overall and won Group N against tough international opposition.
Tony Jardine commented: “The Joule Donegal International Rally is the jewel in the Irish rallying crown, one of my favourite rallies. Many UK competitors have said this is the one to do, but few commit. They just have to sample the scenery, enjoy the incredible 300kms of incredible stages and soak up the camaraderie and they would understand what the ‘Craic’ is all about! A big ‘thank you’ has to go to the Joule Donegal International Rally Committee for their part in my return.
“The event always clashes with a Grand Prix, but this year I was determined to come back so I told them I won’t be there, (as well as his Sky Sports News commitments Tony has been working for BeIn Sports live F1 weekend show across the Middle East and Africa), that’s how much I want to compete in this rally again! I’d like to extend a special thanks to Martin for making all this possible, as well as MIS Motorsport and Kumho Tyres who have supported me throughout my most recent rally events; they are simply the best tyres to have for this rigorous event.
“The ace in the deck for me is securing Gordon Noble as co-driver. He is one of the very best in the business. He is in demand for his expertise as he has rallied around the world at the highest level and been an organiser at the highest level as Clerk of the Course for Rally Ireland in the 2009 World Championship. He also helped Bobby Willis and the famous Circuit of Ireland reclaim its International status in the European Rally Championship, as well as acting as Clerk of the Course.
“Normally we would be training a celebrity or media person as co-driver, so to have a top man with me means it’s my turn to listen and learn again. We are lucky to secure Gordon between his work and rally commitments in South Africa, Europe and China."
Noble’s co-driving experience dates back to 1987. The Jardine/Noble pairing has actually rallied together once before, finishing third in class in a Ford Fiesta R2 at the 2011 Rally of Scotland. Noble’s most recent regular involvement in rallying has been nurturing the talented, young Alistair Fisher, part of the Fisher rallying dynasty. His late uncle, Bertie Fisher, was a three-time winner of the Circuit of Ireland Rally and Irish Champion an amazing four times. Gordon also sat alongside the late Mark Fisher, winning the Peugeot Cup together in 1995.
Noble’s achievements include winning the 2004 World Production title with Niall McShea, but he cites his most memorable result as winning the World Rally Championship South African candidate event, the Zulu Rally, in 2006. Navigating for Alister McRae, the pair beat many WRC regulars, plus all the African stars on their home turf. Outside of his semi-professional rallying commitments, Gordon Noble works as a Traffic Engineer in Omagh for the Local Roads Authority. 2015 brings up his 30-year anniversary in the job.
On the Donegal Rally, County Tyrone man Noble said: “I was delighted to be asked to compete on the event by TV pundit Tony, one of the few people who can genuinely talk the talk and walk the walk of competition driving. Competing in Donegal is always fantastic, no two corners are the same, but many look similar, so the co-driver job is to ensure Tony knows exactly what is ahead.
“The personal satisfaction of a strong performance is immense but difficult to describe, it leaves you in a good mood for a very long time. The Joule Donegal International Rally has evolved into a fantastic carnival which is embraced by the entire population of the county, and the route often meanders through areas of outstanding beauty. I first competed at Donegal in 1988, and it still has an air of anticipation on the build-up, which creates a nervous buzz amongst everyone involved.”
The impressive 2015 Joule Donegal International Rally (19-21 June) entry list includes reigning Irish champion Declan Boyle, 2013 Irish champion Garry Jennings and WRC and European Rally Championship (ERC) star Craig Breen.
