Dean Serrao, the most improved driver of the last season, is in the revised Barbados team for Rally Trinidad from March 28 to 30.
And with heavy-hitters such of last year’s winners Jeff “Fudgie” Panton and Mike Fennell Jr sidelined with mechanical problems and injury to another fancied driver, John “Penti” Powell, the stage is set for a Barbadian clean sweep of the top places in the annual event.
Apart from Serrao, in the Sugar Ultra Subaru S9, the other members of the Barbados team are last year’s second place finisher Neil Armstrong and Barry Ward in the Monster/Sol/Chefette/Digicel/Virgin Atlantic/Gunk/Hankook Tyres/Redline Fuels/Simpson Finance/Simpson Motors Suzuki SX4, Paul “The Surfer” Bourne in the Chefette/Banks/Castrol Ford Focus WRC and Harold “Doc” Morley in the Ontrac Telematics Inc Subaru Impreza N14 STi.
Serrao told the MIDWEEK NATION that he had recently completed remedial work on the powerful Subaru Impreza WRC S9 engine and gearbox, and was looking forward to the event.
“The engine and turbocharger of the Subaru had been rebuilt in the United Kingdom and I am eager to compete in Trinidad again this year after the problems I suffered last year,” he added.
Bourne, whose Ford Focus WRC was shipped direct to Trinidad from Britain having been rebuilt after the 2013 season, said he was excited about going to do what he loved best. He said he was looking forward to the event, and since he was among the previous winners, was relaxed and looking to give a good account of himself and do his sponsors proud.
Armstrong and Ward, on the other hand, are hoping to go one better and win the event, but were not available for comment, while Morley, who contested the event last year, and who has a strong fan base in Trinidad, is also looking forward to contesting the event.
