This year, we have followed Graham and Jen Bartl, a husband and wife rally crew competing in their 1400 Peugeot 206. I caught up with them recently to find out more.

Graham and Jen fell in love with rallying since spectating and watching family competing.

While still only in their second year competing, the Quinton Motor Club pair are starting to get some good mileage and experiences under their belts.

We caught up recently to chat about all of this and more, including their biggest challenge to date, their future plans and most importantly, who would win in a fight between Harley Quinn and Dominic Toretto.

I hope you enjoy our conversation.

Why did you get started competing on Rally events?

Jen: As a family we have been quite keen to spectate at rallies and would also watch when friends and family were competing. Several years ago whilst spectating at Weston Park, I told Graham if he ever wanted to get into rallying, he had to build the car himself.

Graham: When I was a child, I enjoyed watching rallying on TV. Since then I've attending events to spectate, and fancied trying it. I felt that if I didn’t get into it now, I may never.

Do you have a local or favourite event?

Jen: Our most local event is probably also my favourite, so far. Weston Park is quite local to us. It has a special place in my heart being both the place where I accidentally gave Graham the green light to get into rallying, and where we first competed in 2022.

Graham: At the moment my favourite and local event is the AGBO. I like that it is easy to learn the layout of the park. There are some fast and tricky sections which I enjoy.

Do you compete on Tarmac, Gravel or both? Which do you prefer?

Jen: We have only competed on tarmac. I think as a navigator the road surface probably wouldn’t really affect me. However, the idea of gravel possibly damaging the paintwork on the car does upset me a little!

Graham: I compete on tarmac and prefer tarmac. I think that tarmac is more predictable than gravel. When we took part in the Gareth Hall Memorial rally there was a gravel section. I didn’t feel 100% in control of the car and it was a bit unpredictable, but I still enjoyed it.

Tell us more about your car.

Jen: I have a love of French cars, they are terribly temperamental and have their own flippant personalities, so having a Peugeot as our rally car ticked my requirements.

Graham: I bought the car as it was destined to be scrapped and built it into a rally car. The 206 has had very few modifications done to it but I have upgraded the brakes, suspension and exhaust. During the downtime between the 2022 and 2023 seasons, I had the engine tuned, making it feel like a new car for 2023. The engine is a standard 1.4 Petrol which is original to the car.

How long have you been competing? Either individually, or as a crew together?

Jen: We have both been competing since March 2022.

Graham: This is our second season, so far we have completed five rallies together.

Have you had any sponsorship or support?

Graham: My brother Colin of Coltech Rally Services has helped to build the car and given a wealth of advice, both mechanically and practically.

Jen: We have a few sponsors who give us support. My business, The Prolific Crafter, has supported financially a little. Mr Bun the Baker is our newest sponsor and has contributed to our wet tyres for the year. I have also been awarded the Quinton Motor Club bursary for 2023. 

Are you registered in a championship? What do you want to achieve this season?

Jen: This is our first year being in a championship, we are both registered in the Heart of England championship, myself as a co-driver and Graham as a driver. All I want to achieve is getting a few championship points. I don’t expect to win classes, but it would be a bonus if we did.

Graham: All I hope to get out of this year is gaining confidence, experience and enjoying it.

What is the relationship between driver and co-driver like?

Jen: Being married, one would assume it might be a little fraught, but it's not like that at all. We work well as a team within the car and during rallies. In our daily life of course, things aren’t always smooth sailing, but within the car we get on really well and understand each other well.

Graham: Perfect. I have full trust in the information which is being given to me. It is nice that we are taking part in rallying as a husband and wife team.

Any stand out moments? First trophy win? Championship achievements? Crashes or ‘moments’?

Graham: During the final stage of the 2022 AGBO, I may have taken the flying finish a little too literal and flew over the finish line with great fear that the car was about to come off the track. The marshals and rescue team sat on the finish line greeted us by bowing in praise and clapping. I think that got all of our hearts pumping. We also did Epynt which didn't end well. We caught the grass which sent us sideways, resulting in the car rolling. Jen suffered a cracked rib, but otherwise we were ok. We managed to repair the damage in 6 weeks, ready for the next championship round.

Jen: I was very pleased when I sat alongside Lucy Pitch at Llanbedr at the end of last year, and we achieved 3rd in class and got a trophy! I had never thought I would achieve something of that magnitude as I am in it for fun. Graham and I also took 3rd in class on this years Fullbeck rally.

Have you found other competitors to be friendly and helpful?

Jen: At the beginning of 2022, I knew very few people within the rally community. Today however, I can most certainly say I have met some lovely people and made some great friends. I am a complete novice at co-driving and so many people have let me pick their brains and given me advice.

Graham: Everyone has been lovely and freely offers advice. We have had lots of people be friendly and helpful when they realise we are new to the sport. I would like to think that since starting rallying, we have made some friends too. We also lost a brake pad during our last outing, but a friendly competitor had a set which got us back out to finish the event.

What is your plan for the future?

Jen: I would like to finish the Heart of England Championship this year and hopefully register again next year. All I hope to achieve is to increase our championship points year upon year as we progress. As our son gets older and more independent, it would be nice to be able to take part in more rallies, and not have to juggle childcare.

Graham: My plan for the future is to continue improving the car. I also hope to gain more experience and knowledge as we take part in more rallies. I would possibly like to take part in bigger events in the future, but that isn’t something which is on the immediate horizon.

Finally, who would win in a fight... Harley Quinn or Dominic Toretto?

Jen: Harley for sure! She has no fear, or sense. Dominic certainly has muscle and strength, but Harley is stubborn. She won't stop until she has acheived what she wants. She is also a gymnast so has agility on her side. And of course, she would have her signature mallet too!

Graham: Can't argue with that.