As often with the TTRC, we try to name our events after current situations or climate within the country at the time…….but this one lived up to it’s name. So say it had heat is an understatement. With a reduced field due to a few cars still nursing repairs from Rally Trinidad, and one car leaving for Rally Barbados in 3 weeks, those present still made sure that there was plenty action on the Jack and Jill stage in Couva. Speaking of stage, after lunch, it looked more like a desert rally stage with the amount of dust and in some parts…..sand..!
To the action. James Betts with Robert Cadiz alongside for the second straight event…..well…..it was their rally to win, right up until the 9th of 10 ten stages…..after passing me on the downhill jump, the steering on the car locked, sending the pair into the cane and subsequent roll. Rally over. That gave the reigning Rally Trinidad Champion, Stuart Johnson and Wayne Persad their second straight rally win. The pair in the process also took home class and best team honours…..not a bad day in the office. Second place overall and first in Group A, were the duo of Matthew Russell and Simon Rodriguez. Not far behind them , there was a real scrap between the youngster Harold Morely and Shiva Maharaj vs Gobin Mahadeo and Chris Ackee. The latter claiming 3rd overall and second in class, not bad when you consider the pair have not been rallying for almost 2 years. This moral victory has reignited the fire within the team and have vowed to race out the season. After missing RT17, Radj Persad and Schuravi Mallian were going steady until the left front wheel studs make a break for freedom… Kumar Ramdass slapped a tree and then the car broke, so he was out.
Over in 2WD, apart from a broken trailing arm, nothing really bothered Donald Gopaul and his 29th co-driver, Vijay Balkransingh. Pretty soon all of Point Fortin will sit in that car as a co-driver. The pair took home the top prize and shared best team with Sobbie and Wayne. Second place went to a steady Reyaz Mohammed and Leon La Fond, with the ever crowd and media fave, Ansel Ali, making sure that not only did we know where he was at all times on the stage…..but that all media went home sandy……..very very sandy.
Rally action takes a break till July, time for repairs, rebuilds and for some….a bush bath. As usual, the full album of the event is on that “badiss” website….TriniTuner.com and my Instagramers……@stomper75 is where you could find me. Time to send my cameras to clean….
