Rally Jamaica ends in downtown Kingston

Glenroy Sinclair, Assignment Coordinator

With the region's best racing and rally drivers at the wheel of various top-class vehicles, an exciting and thrilling finish is expected this afternoon when Rally Jamaica 2011 climaxes in downtown Kingston.

Thousands of die-hard fans are expected to cram the shoreline along Ocean Boulevard to get a piece of the action at one of the crowning highlights of motorsports in Jamaica.

Those who have never gone to the Dover Raceway in St Ann will have an opportunity to see the colourful circuit-racing cars in action, starting at 4 p.m. According to Larry Henriques, chief organiser of Rally Jamaica, the course for the Dover cars will be between Ocean Boulevard, Princess and Harbour streets, using the corridor which runs behind the Bank of Jamaica (BOJ).

Absent from this year's rally event is the famous stage in Lydford, St Ann, customarily run on day one.

"The Lydford stage will be missed because this is the stage that we normally increase our lead on day one. Right now, the car is good and we are planning on assuming an early lead, then drive carefully on day two - if we are leading," said defending champion Gary Gregg, who will be accompanied by his long-time navigator, the America-based Hugh Hutchinson.

Caribbean rivals

Their chances of retaining the title will depend on the performance of Caribbean rivals Sean Gill/Michael Cummins of Barbados and John Powell/ Nicholas Telfer of Trinidad. Outside of that, Kyle Gregg/Peter Clarke, Richie Rerrie/Winston Dawson and Jeffrey Panton/Mike Fennell Jr are the ones with the potential to upset the applecart.

After yesterday's challenging terrain of the Tru-Juice stages in Bybrook and Bog Walk, St Catherine, those who have survived the dusty and winding dirt tracks, return this morning with a 7:30 start the Tank-Weld Service Yard in Michelton, Bog Walk.

They will then do the short Bybrook stage and the famed Wakefield 'watersplash' stage, then from there, head back closer to Kingston for the Bernard Lodge Canefield stage at approximately 1:30 p.m.

The first car is expected to cross the finishing line at about 4 p.m. on the waterfront, downtown Kingston.