It may be only the third installment of the TTRC 2017 season but that doesn’t mean the action is any less. With one of the main contenders out due to a missing electrician…….the door was left open for all takers on what was only the second running on the new Reform Stage. This stage was first used as a Rally Finale Stage back in 2015, but this time round, we found an extra 1.2km of Stage and it was an even playing field of sorts for all competitors. An afternoon shower kept the dust somewhat at bay but also made the Stage conditions tricky, as more than one competitor found out.
A season to forget is what this one would be for James Betts. We need some country bush to bathe this man…..anyone….ah pleading…!! After a complete rebuild of his car after the slight off in the last rally….the car was almost completed but with time running out, the final details couldn’t meet the deadline. The fight for top step came down to Stuart Johnson with Wayne Persad in the hot seat again vs fresh from their virgin Barbados rally…Ryan Pinheiro and Ross Vieira . Back and forth they went….you take a stage…I take a stage. In the end, someone would have to blink and that was Stuart….over shot a corner, into a muddy field, losing about 8-10 secs….the rally won by Ryan with a margin of 5 secs. Craig Sumair with Lyndon Mohammed returned to rally action after their Rally Trinidad crash, had third overall in hand but due the slippery conditions after lunch, had an off, broke a rear cradle and thus pulled the axle out. Yeah….he next for a bush bath. This left a great scrap between Radj Persad and Schuravi Mallian , Gobin Mahadeo and Chris Ackee and Harold Morely and Bobby Maharaj . Each team getting faster as the day and conditions changed but they finished in that order but with good friends Gobin and Harold swapping places.
Over in 2WD, Donald Gopaul with his 67th co-driver, Anand Awai this time with him, took victory with Reyaz Mohammed and Leon La Fond and Ansel Ali finishing respectively behind him.
The next event should be a cracker, a new Stage to all come September (hopefully). We will back in the Cedar Hill area for the first time in 4 years….but with an all new Stage. As usual, the full album can be seen on that fancy website, TriniTuner.com and my Instagrammers….. @stomper75 is where you could find me….till next time.
