Sheriff ready for the road

Changing weather conditions could be a deciding factor in the Motoring Club Barbados Inc (MCBI) speed event from Stewarts Hill, St John to Mapps, St Phillip today at 4 pm.
And heading the list is the club’s WRC 1 leader Roger “The Sheriff” Skeete who will be at the wheel of a well-prepared Sol/LIME/Simpson Motors/Michelin/Williams Trading Inc Subaru Impreza WRC S12, and who is fresh from winning last month’s Sol Rally Barbados 2014.
It is a day/night event and Skeete is at the top of the group with 27 points way ahead of his nearest rival Paul “The Surfer” Bourne who will miss the event due to business commitments overseas.
A confident Skeete told SUNSPORT that the car was ready for the rigours of the day’s action, but would not be taking things lightly.
“I feel good with the car. All the preparation work that we have put in is paying off . . . the suspension was tuned and is now more user-friendly and the car’s geometry is also working well, especially in the corners. I am happy with the way things are going,” he noted.
Pointing out that the season has been going well for him, he admitted that it is motorsport and things can happen, but gave credit to his mechanical team and his sponsors for the support that they have given.
“I could not do it without them and I will be going out today to give of my best as well as make my sponsors proud,” he added.
At press time, Roger “The Ninja” Hill in the Nassco/Esso/Pennzoil/MotorMac Toyota Corolla WRC was the only driver among the nearly 21 entries, entered in WRC 2, but this could change by the time late entries are considered.
The course, with its long straights and sweeping corners is best suited for the cars in the top class group, but keen competition is expected in the some of the lower groups, expecially in M7 where the club’s overall championship leader Daryl Clarke, with 36 points, in the M7 Roberts Manufacturing/P & N Hardware/Valvoline/Amir’s Chicken/MQI Quality/Mum’s Pasta Honda Civic is entered, but could come under some pressure from Jamal Brathwaite in the Valvoline/Automotive Art/Mackeson/Ellesmere/Chicken Pen Racing/Platinum Motors Honda Civic Type-R.
In the race for two wheel drive honours, Clarke could come under severe pressure from the SM 12 leader Rhett Watson in the Power King Batteries/Carter’s Pitstop/Gliptone/Stihl/Packaging Centre/The Unknown Entity/In support of Little Pink Gift BMW M3, who is also in the title chase with 30 points.
In P4, Mark Thompson, fresh from his outstanding performance at the Digicel Williams International Race Meet, where he emerged as the meeting’s champion driver, tops the group with 27 points and will be the one to be beat in the group.
Drivers will be allowed a practice run and three timed runs over the course.