Several former racers and a few new drivers are included among the 52 cars registered to compete in the season's opener.
Fans will be in for an extra special treat as former Bushy Park champion driver Roger "The Sheriff" Skeete is back. He is set to lock horns in Group 3C with Mark Maloney in his record-breaking "Guinness" powered Mazda RX 3, Steve King in his Percy King Auto Parts Nissan Skyline, Sean Maloney in his Citgo Racing Oils Toyota Starlet and former champion driver Stuart Williams in his Williams Industries/Hilti Toyota Starlet.
Skeete will be at the controls of the former Doug Maloney's Paints Plus Peugeot 306 and all indications are this machine will be packing a mean punch in this group.
Group 3A and 3C should provide fans with just as much excitement as the big guns in 3C. Talk in the pit area is of the impressive-looking debutant Ralph White in his sleek-looking Toyota Starlet.
Racing fans are of the opinion that he could make life miserable for Dudley Forde in his Williams Industries Toyota Corolla, Mohammad Bhana in his Bhana's Everything Store Mazda RZ7 and Neil Thompson who returns to the circuit with a newly-acquired Lucosade Toyota Corolla.
Group 3B will see the likes of Trevor Whitehall in a renewed rivalry with Dave Hinds in his Roxy Supermarket Toyota Starlet. Race fans are still talking about the pass that Hinds executed on Whitehall in their last encounter. Also competing in this group are Kurt Thompson NKM JCB Glassesco Honda Civic, Wayne Clarke, Dirk Gray and Kirk Worrell after a long lay-off.
Also making a grand entry to the Bushy Park Circuit is Philip Moe, son of the top mechanic Leeson Moe. Moe will be piloting the Bizzy Williams-owned former Flying Fish-Sponsored Toyota Starlet. This car, which won the 2005 championship under the hands of Carl Waterman, is now sponsored by NP Oils/Hilti.
Moe can expect no mercy from the likes of former champion Driver Kenrick "Snapper" Husbands in NP Oils/Hilti Toyota Starlet, Wendell Batson, Jerry Leach in his Origo Graphics Peugeot 205 GTi and a rejuvenated Roger Jordon in his Jubilee Supplies Toyota Starlet.
Groups 1B, 2A and 2B will see more than ten cars facing the starters in each group and should add significantly to the day's excitement.
(CH)