THIRTY-NINE crews have been confirmed for today's opening round of the Barbados Rally Club's (BRC) 2008 Rally Championship.

The first car will start from Automotive Art's Six Roads, St Philip outlet at 9 a.m. with the field of competitors being led by Trevor Manning in a rear-wheel-drive Mitsubishi Lancer.

Reigning BRC Rally Champion Paul Bourne is seeded at No. 1, with regular co-driver Stuart Maloney beside him in a Subaru Impreza WRC S9.

They will be challenged by Roger Skeete/Robert Simmons (Ford Escort WRC), Roger Hill/Graham Gittens (Toyota Celica GT4), Brett and Garry Clarke in their Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution V and Neil Armstrong/Barry Ward (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI).

The highest-seeded two-wheel-drive car is the Suzuki Swift of Sean Gill and Michael Cummins who will start at No. 6 with Jonathan Still/Heath Hazell (BMW M3) and Ian Warren/ Matthew Staffner (Peugeot 206) not far behind at eighth and ninth, respectively.

Three popular venues are being used for the event – Kendal, Malvern and Bushy Park. Although the configuration of each has been somewhat modified, the total stage distance is more than 40 kilometres.

In the morning, Kendal will be run from Society to Pool, St John three times (first run scheduled for 9:17 a.m.), alternating with Malvern, running from the Wilson Hill direction (first run 9:47 a.m.).

The final morning run through Malvern is slated for 12:17 p.m., which should mean all six stages should be completed within four hours.

In the afternoon the stages will run in the opposite direction, with the day's final action slated to start just after 5 p.m. at Bushy Park, St Philip. (PR)