The Roché clan: “It’s great to share a sport as a family”

Where does this passion for motorsport come from and more particularly rally ?

Jean-Luc: I started on karting in 1992 by tackling the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Then Pierre followed me a year later by also making his debut with the double clock tower.

Rock : We went karting, because we met people who took us to the side of the tracks. At 10 years old, I dreamed of practicing motocross. But I always considered that outside the circuit, it was really dangerous on the road. I'm not a biker, although I've done a lot of cross-country riding!

Jean-Luc: We then left for the French endurance championship in the same team and in competing teams. There were some great performances, including a 4th place at the 24 Hours of Le Mans (1992 Editor’s note.). We were also French endurance vice-champions. At the same time, I had the opportunity to take part in a regional rally with a driver that I supported a little, Jean Blayon. He lent me his 205 GTi 1.6. I didn't defend myself too badly. It made me want to continue. At the end of 1999, despite good results, Pierre and I made the decision to stop karting, because it was rarely reliable. We were a little fed up.

How did you discover the rally?

Jean-Luc: When I arrived at the rallies, I met Jean Galpin (founder in 1991 of the FJ team, for which the Roché Family races. Editor's note), un petit cousin dont j’étais très proche puisque nous sommes nés à 5 km l’un de l’autre. Nous nous étions u