Well, after an uncharacteristically 3 month long “vacation” of sorts, the guys and gals of the Trinidad and Tobago Rally Club held it’s 3rd event for the year. Now, this was in fact to the 4th but the previous event was cancelled due to heavy rains making the stage impossible to use.
So the rally…..well…..everything was on fire, the sun, the stage, the pace, James Betts car…. Apparently a hot wire within the engine bay had a love affair with a fuel return line of sorts and well…they hit it off. Rumour has it that the driver was shouting “we on fire” and the co-driver told him “I know…keep pushing”….as they were leading at the time. These in car relationships I tell you. Anyway, the field for this event was smaller than events passed due to a number of competitors being out for various reasons, most notably would be Mr. Powell’s R5 Fiesta which was sent back to the UK for a refresh after a certain Mr. Evans spanked it for Rally Barbados a month ago.
So, 10 cars and 10 stages starting at 10am….Ms Jacqueline Alexiss was in her element. Out of the block, everyone sort of had an idea what the day would have ended like and who the finishers would have been. Most of us lost money. With the aforementioned heated love affair, Mr Betts with Jason Costelloe co-driving, were out second stage after lunch. This effectively handed the rally to Stuart Johnson with Lee Quesnel sitting next to him no doubt having those conversations I keep hearing about but never actually hearing it. Taking overall and class, they were followed by Ryan Pinheiro and Ross Vieira also benefiting from Bett’s retirement by taking 2nd overall and 1st in class. Rounding out the podium would be Craig Sumair and Trinibaj Joshua Plaza 3rd overall and 2nd in class. Radj Pershad and Shuravi Schuravi Mallian came home 3rd in class with a consistent drive and Kumar Ramdass with Bobby Maharaj in the hot seat claiming 4th. Bobby who would normally sit with the young Harold Morely, but the latter’s car is still in transit from its stint in Barbados. Matthew Russell with Brian Bhagwandass in the hot seat fought off small issues to claim 2nd in Class and Best Team Prize with fellow Kaizen driver Craig.
Over in 2wd, it was a mixed bag as apparently no on wanted to win. Everyone had an issue. Donald Gopaul lost power on the opening stage and once fixed ran like a bat out of hell for the rest of the day. He even passed right by me to say hello at one point. Reyaz Mohammed had gremlins which saw him have an up and down day. The Vice President of the Independent Republic State of Cedros, Ishmael Khan…..the RB gearbox his brother Imran Khan, the President, tried squeeze in the Starlet let go leaving them stranded mid stage 7. In the end, it was Reyaz, Donald Ishmael in that order.
Next up, August the 14th and a stage to be announced.
…till next time.
