It is not every day that you are given the opportunity of a 100mph drive through a forest with five times former British Rally Champion Jimmy McRae or one of the City’s leading Brokers, Andrew Barnes. Twelve guests of Jardine Lloyd Thompson travelled to Ashley Forest near Christchurch on Tuesday 14th October to join the rally team who were shaking down the Mk2 Ford Escorts in preparation for the Silver Fern Rally, an eight-day marathon event offering over 1200kms of special stages in the South Island.
Ray Andrew led the party when business suits were discarded and the unusual dress of rally overalls and helmets were worn. Each individual enjoyed their circuit around the two different stages which were being used.
Craig Neil, Contracts Manager for the NZ Rugby Union said, “It was my first time in a rally car and I was pretty relaxed heading up the hill but coming down was a different story with us travelling very quickly and seemingly out of control the whole way down – but we made it!! At the finish (and after my shaking had stopped) Andrew assured me that he always had everything under total control (it was a doddle) but did add that it was his first look at the course and the first time he had driven a right hand steer rally car. Very comforting... All in all a great experience and a very thrilling ride.”
John Blair, General Counsel and Company Secretary of Air New Zealand was silent in the passenger seat alongside Jimmy McRae during his thrilling drive and when coming to a halt stated that this had been a once in a lifetime experience.
To promote the JLT business in New Zealand the Ford Escorts carried the decals of JLT Transport Specialist Insurance Provider to the Transport Industry
It was a beautiful spring day and as lunchtime approached the guests and drivers adjourned to a local vineyard for lunch, where many stories were exchanged. A unique opportunity for the JLT guests taking advantage of the corporate opportunity to entertain guests whilst the rally team were in the country. This is not the first time Ray Andrew has taken advantage of the Rally Teams presence, four years ago he entertained clients in Auckland when Alister McRae was competing on Rally New Zealand, a round of the Production World Rally Championship.
On the event the drivers had mixed fortunes. After a troublesome slow start, Jimmy McRae and co-driver Pauline Gullick climbed the leader board to third overall on the third day, following the most difficult and longest stages of 93 and 63kms. The fourth day started well, climbing to second by midday and in the last long 50km stage of the afternoon passed the Mazda of Grundy who had been leading, changing a wheel after being off the road. Now being extra careful the crew got caught out on a 90 right over crest, the car slid on the grass and hit a gatepost, which damaged the radiator and the front of the engine. McRae finished the stage as leader of the rally but at service that night the repairs could not be fixed in time and it was decided to withdraw. A very disappointing end to what looked like was going to plan, in driving at a safe pace and trying to stay out of trouble.
City Broker Andrew Barnes and co-driver Guy Simmons enjoyed this new experience of the challenges of the New Zealand roads and despite various mechancial problems and a small off finished 19th overall. They enjoyed the long stages especially the 93kms around Lake Otago, which provided all types of surfaces and weather. This stage will be best remembered as the location of Lord of the Rings. A highlight of this rally for Andrew Barnes was the opportunity to go fishing whilst in Queenstown. The photograph of the 4.5lb Brown Trout caught that evening was shown many times during the event and I am sure has already been viewed by his colleagues in London.
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