by TREVOR THORPE

OPERATION PAYBACK.

That's how top local driver Paul "The Surfer" Bourne sums up tomorrow's joint event organised by the Motoring Club Barbados Inc.(MCBI) and the Barbados Rally Club (BRC) slated for Orange HIll to Four Hills, St Peter starting at 11: 30 a.m.

It is expected to be a straight fight between Bourne in the Plus/Warrens Motors Subaru Impreza and Jamaica's John "Penti" Powell in the ex-Didier Auriol Trinidad/ Stag/NP Ultra/ICSL Toyota Corolla WRC.

Bourne admitted he had made some mistakes when theytwo met earlier this month in another speed event from Ellesmere to Woodland, St John, but he is hoping to do much better on Sunday.

"The driver who makes less errors will be the one who will win the event . . . however, the course is very demanding; and some caution should also be taken in ones quest to be the fastest", he told SATURDAY SPORT.

He said he had made critical errors at the 'hairpin' on the Ellesmere-Woodland course which had cost him valuable time, but the Subaru was working well and he was looking forward to the event.

'The Surfer' as he affectionately known n local and regional racing circles, has never been beaten at Four Hill, but he was quick to point out that although it's his favourite course, he would not be taking any undue risks as it is a course which calls for much attention.

"It has everything in it. It has high-speed sections as well as corners, uphill and down hill areas, blind crests and areas where the surface changes, so you have to be perfect or near to being perfect. The driver who makes fewer mistakes is the one who will win", Bourne declared.

According to Bourne, you have to get the braking points right and your set-ups have also got to be precise, and as long as the 'package' holds together then we are in for an exciting day's racing.

Confident

Powell too, is equally confident. Speaking from his office in Trinidad, he said he was looking forward to the event, and in his preparation, to get in as much 'seat-time' in the run-up to this year's Rally Jamaica, in December.

"I think the event is going to be very competitive". I expect that Paul (Bourne) will be much sharper and will be out to prevent a recurrence of his errors of the event in St John, but I am hoping that the minor problems that I experienced with the Corolla will be iron out and that we can have a good day's racing", Powell said.

The Trinidad-based Jamaican said Bourne is a good driver, and that, plus local knowledge, should make him a formidable force at Four Hill in tomorrow's event.

Barry Gale in the Dentyne Ice/Simpson Motors/Nishikoi Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Evolution VI along with Roger 'The Ninja' HIll in the EssoMobilI/Motormac/Michelin Toyota Celica GT4 will help to deepen the talent in the top-class section of the competition, while leading the two-wheel drive challenge will be Roger 'The Sheriff' Skeete in the Plus/Havoline/SRG Engineering Peugeot 306 Maxi, Cliff Roett in the Roett's Garage Toyota Starlet, along with Ian 'WeeWee' Warren in the SubZero Services Peugeot 206 GTi.

Points for top performers will count towards this year's drivers' championship in both clubs which hold trophies, and a trip, with the compliments of BWIA, for the MCBI and Virgin Atlantic title in the BRC.