Postby rcadiz » February 11th, 2009, 10:09 am
Well folks its almost that time again - Rally Trinidad. After last weekend's event in Bronte and Cedar Hill the hype has started for what could be a battle for rally supremacy on arguably the region's best gravel stages.
With Harold Morely at the helm acting as Clerk of the Course for last Sunday's event, he himself with over 40 years experience rallying was very impressed with the quality of the stages. His comments should bode well as we try to lure as many foreign competitors here in April to take on the local drivers.
Last year the Trinidad and Tobago hopefuls were simply outperformed by the Bajan and Jamaican drivers. This year could be different as we wait to see the full potential of Ainsley's Evo 9, Rezan's Mivec, and Darrel's Evo
So here is the possible line up - Provisional for now:
LOCAL 4WD (no particular seeding order)
- Barry Mckenzie - Evo 6
- Ainsley Lochan - Evo 9
- Bench - Subaru
- Vishal Dhanraj - Subaru
- Anthony Heerah - Subaru (hope to see him return)
- Fawaz Mohamed - Evo 1
- Bobby Ramdass - Evo 3
Although we would have hoped to see John Powell back in action - it seems unlikely until later this year. We wish him the best on his much anticipated return to the gravel.
LOCAL 2WD (no particular seeding order)
- Darrel Ramessar - Evo 3
- Rezan Mohamed - Mivec
- Roger Mckenzie - Runx
- Robert Cadiz - Hyundai Scoupe
- Ansel Ali - Mazda 323
- Franklin Seegobin - Toyota Corolla
- Sarah Jane Gopaul - Mazota
- Sean Hinds - Toyota Corolla
- Zak Waddel - Lotus
- Scott Sheppard - Escort MkII
- Glen Pontifex - Lancer RWD
- Shelford Robinson - B13
- James Harris - B13
- Michael Dinnoo - Starlet (hopefully)
That's a possible 21 local drivers.
Now the Foreigners - Again this is provisional and subject to change
JAMAICA (4)
- Junior Barnes - Evo 9
- Richard Rerrie - Subaru
- Natasha Chang - Evo 5
- Bobby Marshal - Mivec
Jeffery Panton could still be tempted in his WRC Ford Focus if the other WRC boys can get here - but we will keep our fingers crossed for now.
BARBADOS (10)
- Neil Armstrong - Evo 6
- Geoffrey Noel - Evo 9
- Michael Worme - Subaru
- Harold Morely - Subaru
- Sean Gill - Evo 8
- Dean Serrao - Subaru
- James Betts - Subaru
- Roger Hill - Toyota Corolla (WRC)
- Davis Williams - Starlet
- Ian Warren - Suzuki Swift
Still waiting on more responses but we hope Paul Bourne will be the mix somewhere as well as Roger Skeete in their WRC Subarus
ST. VINCENT (1)
- Steve Ollivierre
Folks that's another possible 15 drivers!!!
STAGES. As you all know we were limited by the stages in 2008 but that has all changed this year starting with the rally last Sunday in Bronte and Cedar Hill. So far these are the following stages which are confirmed for RALLY TRINIDAD 2009
- BRONTE - 9.5km
- CEDAR HILL - 10.5km
- ZIG ZAG to INDIAN TRAIL - 4.5km
- SNAKE - 3.2KM
Chaguanas Super Street Special
For those rally fans that have never heard of the New Kingston Street Special in Rally Jamaica i suggest you check it out on Youtube now. For the many who know it however - PREPARE TO BE ENTERTAINED. The TTRC is currently working closely with the Chaguanas Borough Council in planning the closing event of RT09 on the streets of Chaguanas. Look out for more of this as the details are made available to you.
Folks in a nutshell after RT08 we have the potential competitors and stages that could cement rallying in Trinidad on the regional motorsporting map as a must-attend event.
So i ask you - Can you really afford to miss this - Stay tuned for more.............
