Champion drivers Jamal Brathwaite of the Motoring Club Barbados Inc and the Barbados Rally Club’s Geoff Noel will lead a 35-man field into a joint speed event of the two clubs from Wilson Hill to Malvern, St John, from 10 a.m. today.
Called Spring Blaze 1&2, it is the first road event of the 2012 season and is expected to be keenly contested as some of the drivers will be out to grab as many points early in the season.
For others, such as Sean Gill and Brathwaite, it will have added importance as they could also be using the event as a tune-up for Rally Trinidad at the end of the month.
Saturday’s technical scrutineering, coupled with an autocross at Bushy Park, should set the tone for what is being seen as a wide open affair as most drivers are short on seat-time since the close of the last season.
Scotland’s Greame Finlayson, who may also be eyeing a place in Sol Rally Barbados later this year, is among those entered as well as Roger “The Sheriff” Skeete, Paul “The Surfer” Bourne, Sean Field, Mark Hamilton and Andrew Mallalieu.
However, Stuart Maloney in his Automotive Art/Valvoline Peugeot 306 Maxi, the father and son combination of Norman and Kyle Catwell, David Brewster, Wayne Archer and Daryl Clarke help to heighten the level of competition over the long and twisty course.
The event has also attracted overseas-based Barbadian drivers, the Watson brothers, Rhett and Logan.
Motorsport fans will also be happy to welcome back veteran driver St Elmo Cumberbatch and see how he fares against some hot new drivers, as well as against the seasoned competitors like former motoring club champion driver John Corbin, daredevil Geoffrey Ullyett, Ian “WeeWee” Warren, Jeremy Sisnett and the youthful Alex Whitehead.
Avanash Chatrani, Miguel Toppin, Clifford Cox, Sean Cox and Jeremy Croney are also entered to contest the day’s action.
