Rallye Grands Fonds, Guadeloupe
    17th & 18th June 2000

Special Report by Peter Morris & Devendra Nath
Photography supplied by Peter Morris

The Rallye Grands Fonds took place in Guadeloupe on 17th/18th June and Jeffrey Panton from Jamaica and Peter Morris from Trinidad took part in this superb event. There were 15 tarmac and gravel stages some over 20Km in length and huge crowds gathered all along the route.

After the start at the Opel garage in Jarry, the Peugeot 306 Maxi of Max Berville went into an early lead with Jeffrey Panton in his Group A Toyota Celica in second place. The beautiful Renault Megane of Tead Guad crashed heavily on stage 1 and was almost completely destroyed.

On day 2 it rained almost as soon as cars left the start of stage 8 and Jeffrey Panton and John De Mercado left the road in their ex-works Toyota, with major body damage to the rear of the car and one rear wheel totally destroyed. Max Berville also left the road on the next corner but without hitting anything solid and he was able to continue with only a slight delay.

The final three stages were on dirt at the famous Celcourt estate and Peter Morris co-driven by Devendra Nath in their Group A Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 1 took three fastest times much to the delight of the enormous crowd. The Peougot 306 Maxi and a string of well prepared Lancer Evolution 4, 5 and 6's followed close behind.

The rally was won overall by Max Berville, 2nd was Myriam Coyere (a really fast and attractive lady driver) Group A Class 8 was won by Peter Morris and Group N was won by P. Gabriel in a Subaru Impreza.