Local drivers create a splash
Published:Sunday | December 12, 2010 | 12:00 AM
Glenroy Sinclair, Assignment Coordinator
With David Summerbell wrapping up the Caribbean Motor Racing Championship; Bobby Marshall's scintillating performance in the Barbados Rally series; Joshua Sirgany's successful stint in the Florida go-kart championship this year; and now, Gary Gregg and Hugh Hutchinson's victory in the Rally Jamaica 2010, all eyes are on Jamaica as participants and enthusiasts gear up for next year's motorsport calendaar .
Already Errol Anderson, the president of the Jamaica Millennium Motoring Club (JMMC), has declared 2010, an eventful year in motorsport for Jamaica. He was overwhelmed with how the people responded to the closing stages of Rally Jamaica 2010, which concluded in downtown Kingston last Sunday.
"It was the first time that we took the rally in downtown Kingston. And, I was touched by the response of the people. They seem to have enjoyed every moment of it," said Anderson, in his post rally comments.
Kingston's businessman Gary Gregg and his United States-based co-driver, Hugh Hutchinson, are still celebrating their fifth win, in seven years, in the Petcom/JMMC-sponsored stages rally, which Anderson described as the Caribbean's premier dirt event.
There were six World Rally Championship (WRC) cars in the event and according to reports, based on their preparations and capabilities, anyone could have won the event. Two of these cars were being driven by Jamaicans, Gary Gregg and Jeffrey Panton. The others were piloted by representatives from Barbados, Trinidad and the United Kingdom.
On day two, December 4, when the rally officially got under way, at the Petcom Service Station in Moneague, St. Ann, Panton was among the favourites to take the chequered flag, however, problems with his clutch during the early stages negatively impacted his chances of winning. Before midday, several others drivers either crashed or developed mechanical problems and were forced out of action for the day.
"Coming into the event, my biggest threat were Sean Gill, John Powell and Panton," said Gregg.
On the final day, only one Jamaica team was left in the top six. The defending champions, Gregg and Hutchinson were now charged with the responsibility to ensure the coveted title stays in Jamaica. Interestingly, since its inception, no overseas team has ever won this event.
Though Gregg led Sean Gill and co-driver Michael Cummins of Barbados at one stage, they began to reduce the gap. They were driving an impressive WRC Suzuki SX4 for the first time. Close on their heels were the pair from the United Kingdom, Robert Swan and Darren Garrod.
Any mistake on the part of Gregg/Hutchinson, meant that Jamaica would have kissed the rally crown goodbye.
"On the final day, I tried to do everything carefully. I drove cautiously, especially when I approached the stages in downtown Kingston. I could hear persons shouting out warnings to be careful and don't allow the foreigners to carry away the trophy," Gregg told Automotives after the rally.
He had high praises for the officials and marshals for what he described as a very competitive event. The final results confirmed Gregg, Gill and Swan as the top the three finishers.