Glenroy Sinclair, Assignment Coordinator

AFTER YESTERDAY'S challenging stages in Lydford and Reynolds, St Ann, the competitors will head to Bog Walk, St Catherine, this morning where the country's premier motorsport event, Rally Jamaica, resumes.

The three-day event will conclude this afternoon in New Kingston. Today's resumption is scheduled for 7:00, at the Tru-Juice property in Bybrook, St Catherine. Drivers will run the Bybrook and Wakefield water-splash stages several times before negotiating their way back to Kingston.

"These stages will require a lot of experience," a smiling Doug Gore told Automotives on Friday. "The World Rally Cars (WRC) will manage these stages very well," he further said.

'Dark horse'

While he has been seen referred to as the 'dark horse' in the event, the experienced Mexican driver, Ricardo Trivinio, said he would be trying his best, despite his limited knowledge of the local terrain.

"A win for me will be very fantastic," said Trivinio, who will be driving a 2003 WRC Peugeot 206, with co-driver Checo Salom.

Of the seven teams out of Barbados, Roger Skeete believes he and Paul Bourne have the best chance of upsetting the apple cart.

"We are much better prepared than when we were five years ago, when we finish second in the event," boasted Skeete.

Skeete and co-driver Robert Simmons will be driving one of the five top cars in the rally.

"Jamaica's Gary Gregg has proven to be very quick, we understand that Jeffrey Panton too is quick, my fellow countryman, Paul Bourne, is driving one of the WRCs , so I am expecting a tight finish," said Skeete, who has been coming in this event for the last eight years.

Panton believes he and Gregg might complete the quinella for Jamaica.

Raring to go

"It is going to be a very tight race, but we are ready," said Panton.

Although Doug 'Hollywood' Gore might not be all that competitive to take the checkered flag, he and co-driver Mark Nelson have expressed confidence in winning the JN8 Class.

"My plans are for my Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 10 finish the event and then win my class," said Gore, who has dominated circuit racing at Dover.

Yesterday, the event restarted at the Petcom Service Station in Ocho Rios, St Ann. From there the competitors ran the speedy terrain of the old bauxite mine and airstrip in Reynolds and Lydford, St Ann.

A total of 42 cars reported for the start, at the National Stadium car park, Kingston, on Friday afternoon, where they completed two special stages. They were scheduled to complete 25 special stages and about 170 kilometres over the period.