Rally ends today

Glenroy Sinclair, Assignment Coordinator

The usually quiet farming communities of Wakefield, New Works, and Bybrook in rural St Catherine is expected to erupt in excitement today with the thunderous roar of engines as the competitors of Rally Jamaica 2010 battle for supremacy in the Caribbean's premier dirt-track event.

The two-day event, which began yesterday, took competitors across the challenging terrain of Haddon Pen and Lydford in St Ann. It will climax this afternoon at the Kingston waterfront.

"The (more than) 10 miles of road has been prepared and ready. The spectators should enjoy the popular water-splash stage. Today's setting will be a carnival-like atmosphere," said Peter McConnell, proprietor of the orange farms in Wakefield and Bybrook. The businessman gave the green light for his properties to be used as part of the stages in the rally.

Those who survived the mechanical challenges yesterday are expected to face the starter this morning at the Petcom Service Station in Angels, Spanish Town.

Speaking with Automotives on Friday, defending champion Gary Gregg said despite having a minor problem, he was very optimistic.

minor problem

"We are having one little minor problem. But, this is something we can overcome, start the rally and go on to win," said Gregg, who was tuning his World Rally Championship (WRC) car.

All eyes should be on Jeffrey Panton who has expressed confidence in snatching the title this year. Meanwhile, Bobby Marshall, who recently won the rally-championship series in Trinidad, is looking forward to winning the JA3 Class and the Two-Wheel Drive Championship with his Mitsubishi Mirage.

The Two-Wheel Drive contest promises to be a crowd thriller, as many drivers are gearing up to grab the title. Joel Jackson, in his Subaru Impreza, is hoping to elude overseas entrants James Betts and Harold Morely to win the JN8 Class and, if lucky enough, the Four-Wheel Drive Class.

"Joel has been doing well in rallies since January. Right now, he is ready and anxious for action," said his father, Andrew.

The Jamaicans are hoping to make a clean sweep of the major prizes. The overall winner of the Petcom/JMMC-sponsored event should come from one of the six WRC cars. Overseas drivers Roger Skeete, Sean Gill and Dean Serrao are the main hopefuls to upstage the local drivers.