17-year-old Ed Fossey has had a busy year in 2015. Not only has he had to deal with the usual stresses of A Level studies but he also committed to a full-on season in the Kick Energy Junior 1000 Rally Championship in the UK. Ed has also been competing at home, culminating in a strong showing on the Paperclix Jersey Rally in October, while at the same time raising funds for the Teenage Cancer Trust Jersey Appeal.The Junior 1000 Rally Championship is the perfect proving ground for young talent running in almost identical one–litre rally prepped cars. Competitors tackle tarmac stages on closed airfields, military bases and racing circuits – gaining valuable rallying experience before being legally able to drive on the public roads. Fossey is hoping to follow in the wheel-tracks of past championship graduates including National front running driver Aaron McClure and Peugeot UK factory rally driver Chris Ingram.
After an impressive part campaign in the Junior Championship in 2014, Fossey went into the 2015 season full of optimism in his Citroen C1. The season opener, the Roskirk Stages in Lancashire back in March got the Jerseyman off to a flying start bagging fifth place on the challenging event.Carrying the momentum forward, the Victoria College student headed to Anglesey in north Wales to tackle the Lee Holland Memorial Stages. From the off Ed posted some impressive stage times and after a long day of hard rallying he took third overall and a step on the podium.Following his podium, a fourth overall on the June Mid Summer Caerwent Rally saw a positive showing for the St Lawrence resident in the first half of the year.“The first half of the year showed our pace on the stages but also our commitment to the Junior Championship as we have the added logistical challenge of getting ourselves backwards and forwards to the UK. This was certainly respected by the event organisers and fellow competitors.”
With any sport there are highs and lows and this was to be no different for the young Channel Islander. After a spell of mechanical retirements over the next few rounds Ed had to pick himself up for the final push in the series.“It was tough over the summer months to travel across to the UK and sadly end our events prematurely with mechanical problems. It was very frustrating but it made me a stronger person and even more determined to bounce back and keep fighting for a strong end to the season.”Heading back to Anglesey in late October, the scene of his podium earlier in the year Fossey participated in the two-day Glyn Memorial Junior Rally. Tackling the windswept Trac Mon, Fossey was running well heading into the night stages before brake failure resulted in dramatic time loss for the rest of the first day. Undeterred he fought back and scored a much needed finish to bring him back into the top 10 in the championship.
The final event of the year at Cadwell Park was to be a great performance by the Channel Islander to claim seventh on the event and eighth overall in the championship, which saw 23 registered drivers fight for supremacy throughout the year. “To get a good finish at the end of the year has really boosted my confidence going into the winter break. The Junior Championship was a great place to learn so many skills and to tackle different events with different co-drivers helped me learn more about the sport as I look to progress my career in 2016. I would like to thank all the organisers for their support and help throughout the two years. To claim a podium in north Wales was an incredible feeling but my favourite venue has to be Caerwent in south Wales as the stages are very demanding and you need 100% concentration all of the time. A slight off could result in a wheel being pulled off the car by a concrete block or high kerb!”Fossey also took part in the Jersey Rally, dovetailing his Junior exploits with a run on his home event. In a rapid 1600cc Vauxhall Nova, Ed was seeded 61st but climbed into the late twenties towards the end of day one before retiring with mechanical gremlins once again. However, this was an early demonstration of what will come when he graduates to senior National competition next year. In the build-up to the Jersey Rally, Ed became an ambassador for the Teenage Cancer Trust Jersey Appeal raising over £500 for the local cause.“It was an honour to raise funds and promote the Teenage Cancer Trust during the Jersey Rally fortnight. I look forward to working with the team next year as I feel it is important to support local good causes and help teenagers less fortunate than myself.”Of course without Ed’s supporters who have rallied around him, there would have been no campaign in 2015.“Without my supporters I would not be able to compete in the UK and in Jersey. I would like to thank CaravanSites.co.uk for their support throughout the year as well as my Jersey Rally sponsors, Prestige Safety Training, Herock Clothing, Delta Racing, Tractor Services Channel Islands. I would also like to thank the Education Sport and Culture and the Jersey Motorcycle and Light Car Club. I hope they will all join me in my ventures for next year.Ed has also made the final selection for several prestigious rallying awards for young drivers in the past few weeks and will now work harder than ever over the winter as he weighs up his options for 2016.
