“We are absolutely thrilled to share some exhilarating news with you – our team has just returned from Europe as the official Blidinje Challenge 2024 Champions! 

“Blidinje, nestled in the stunning heart of Herzegovina, was an incredible experience for us. This was our first time competing in this prestigious race, and we couldn’t be more excited about our victory.”

“Gigglepin Racing are the 2023 European Ultra 4 Champions!

“Ultra 4 is the Formula 1 of off-road racing. Its high-adrenaline, fast-paced and action-packed format makes it a firm favourite with racers and crowds around the world. The European Championship is always hard fought, and this year was no different with teams from across Europe battling to take the crown.

“Step forward Jim Marsden and the Gigglepin Racing crew. Winners of this title in 2019 and runners up in 2022. They were looking to go one better and regain their title in 2023.
Racing over three rounds in Poland, Great Britain and Portugal fighting the terrain, distance, the weather and high-class opposition, it was never going to be easy.

“But the Gigglepin race team are exceptional, with crew from UK, Malta, Portugal and Italy – they are experts at overcoming the odds. The championship came down to fierce final battle that was decided under sunny skies at King of Portugal.

“With Jim and Co-driver Alex Wilson keeping Belgium powerhouse that it is the Ruel Sport team just behind them in points to secure their second European title in four years.

“This season was about perseverance, teamwork and dedication. The hundreds of hours in the workshop and the late nights in the pits. But none of it is possible without the incredible team, our partners and our sponsors. So, thank you one and all!

“Now it’s time to rebuild the race cars and get ready for the 2024 season racing as the defending Ultra 4 European Champions.�

GRAF Adventure Series

“It’s been three years since our last adventures in Portugal and it was time to get back into the action with two events – first, the four-day GRAF Adventure Series event (comprising special stages that vary from difficult to downright insanity!) and second, the King of Portugal event – the final round jewel in the crown of the 2022 European Ultra 4 Championship.�

Day 1

“We used our new heavily modified vehicle ‘Mistress’ for this event. This Ultra 4 racer is not designed for winch challenges, but we made several modifications, including fitting a rear winch, and we were super confident we could make it.

“It all started with two night stages on the Wednesday night, and we got off to a flyer, hitting the fastest times in both stages. A five-minute penalty for hitting a tape dropped us down to 8^th – not the start we wanted.�

Day 2

“The next day, we were greeted by heavy rain and temperatures in single figures as we headed out for eight hours of racing across 10 special stages. Thankfully, the weather gods had a change of heart and after getting drenched on the drive to the site, blue skies appeared and the sun was soon beating down once again.

“We were on good form in the stages and took a few stage wins with co-driver Chris Abel working hard to run the winch lines as Mistress showed us what she can do. But a further 20 minutes of penalties saw us still floundering down the table in 7^th position. We needed to up our game!�

Day 3

“This day saw us returning to the amazing river stages that GRAF is famous for. Huge rocks,
dried out riverbeds and pools of water, in vast, technical stages. It was time to start showing these guys what this car could do, and we laid down fastest time after fastest time with zero penalties.

“Only one more day of battling to go, and we can felt like we were catching the leaders.

“But first, we had two more night stages. As midnight approached, we took to the hills. Our Lazer Lights blazed into the darkness as our Maxxis tyres hunted for grip on the Portuguese rocks. We needn’t have worried as we put down fast times; winning one stage and coming second on the other.

“The next day, we woke to find the scores are up, and we were back in the game! We had blazed up to 3^rd place – only a few seconds behind second place and five minutes behind a flying Helder da Rocha.�

Day 4

“This was a new site for the GRAF, and when we arrived, we found a heavily forested site littered with giant boulders. It looked more like a giant’s playground! It was staggeringly beautiful. Our first stage was insane with four cliff faces to winch, and tight, technical areas through shallow rooted trees. We started well but it soon turned to hell after an error put us on our roof and we left the stage with a DNF and three penalties! It was an absolute disaster. We consolidated and gathered our thoughts, and in the next stages we lay down good times. In the fourth stage, we just couldn’t get finished in time and take yet another DNF. This is a bad day and getting worse! We soldiered on and took two fastest times, but in our penultimate stage, reverse gear decided it didn’t want to play anymore. As we entered the final stage, we knew another DNF was looming. It wasn’t a good day for the team.

“But we did get to watch our great friends Helder da Rocha and Flavio Gnomes lay down a masterclass. They were the only team to clear the final stage and by doing so sealed a well-deserved victory.

“The prize giving at GRAF is always fantastic and we were there with our team, Brian and Thomas from Malta, as well as co-driver Chris Abel and driver James Marsden enjoying a superb feast to celebrate this fine event. Then it was prizegiving. The last day had killed our chances of winning, but we hit the podium with a 3^rd-place in 44 Class, as well as 4^th overall. It’s not the result we wanted but sometimes you have to roll with it and there was no time to waste as we had to get Mistress ready for King of Portugal which is only four days after this event ended.”