Glenroy Sinclair, Senior Staff Reporter

MOTOR SPORTS fans across the Caribbean have begun casting their votes to express who they believed should be crowned the region's top driver.

According to the polls, up to late Friday afternoon, Jamaica's David Summerbell was the third choice. At the top of the table is Guyana's Mark Veira, followed by Barbados' Mark Malloney. Another Jamaican, Peter Rae, is in sixth place and has a difficult task ahead if he is to improve on that poisition.

This will depend on how well Rainforest Seafood prepared his car for the championship which begins later this week at the South Dakota Circuit in Guyana.

The Jamaican contingent will depart the island on Wednesday afternoon. They will be up against the best from Canada, the United States, Barbados, Trinidad and the host country.

Outclassed opponents

At the warm-up meet in Trinidad two weeks ago, Rae and Summerbell easily outclassed their opponents on a wet and slippery track. Rae came with a late burst to take the chequered flag in one of the events, while Summerbell won two of the three races.

"It will not be all that easy this time but Summerbell, who is the reigning champion, is expected to stamp his authority," commented Hilary Jardine, the manager of Team Jamaica.

The fearless Summerbell told The Gleaner yesterday that he will be pulling out all stops to defend the title he won in 1998. That was the last time the regional championship was held.

"Based on their performances in Trinidad, I believe they have equally good chances in Guyana. We are expecting them to come out on top again," said Errol Anderson, president of the Jamaica Millennium Motoring Club.