Region's fastest cars expected for today's Dover clash

Four the fast way

Glenroy Sinclair, Assignment Coordinator

After yesterday's qualifying session, die-hard motor sport fans are expected to turn out in droves to hopefully witness the four fastest cars in the region clashing today at the Dover Raceway, St. Ann, in the first leg of the Caribbean Motor Racing Championship.

If all goes according to the script in qualifying, Guyana's Kevin Jeffrey will be in a Mitsubishi Evolution VIII and Barbados' Mark Maloney will be at the wheel of a RX3 Mazda. Jamaica's Doug Gore will pilot the famed Audi TT and David Summerbell an Mitsubishi Evolution 8.

"Of all the cars that I have seen I am really impressed with Kevin Jeffrey's car. It really looks good and it is very fast. I believe it will be a battle down to the wire between David Summerbell, Mark Maloney, Jeffrey and myself," said Gore, who stunned the regional drivers with a one minute 19 seconds lap time during practice on Thursday.

hungry for action

Gore said the Audi feels good and he is ready and hungry for action. Garnet Johnson, Summerbell's chief mechanic, said the Mitsubishi Evolution 8 easily did a one minute 20 seconds lap time on a damp track early last week.

"We had some problems the last race meet, which we have since corrected. It should be a good weekend for us. The car is running good and will be competitive to stand up to the Audi and the other cars," Johnson told Automotives last Friday.

Summerbell is upbeat. In response to Jeffrey's comments about knowing the strengths and weaknesses of the Jamaican drivers, plus the length and breadth of the Dover circuit, Summerbell said the Guyanese has another guess coming. "We have some more tricks up our sleeves, but I believe that the best prepared and most reliable car will stand out," Summerbell said.

Today's meet is expected to be filled with non-stop action and, according to the Jamaica Race Driver Club's president Christopher McFarlane, the Jamaicans will be highly motivated by ace dancehall artiste Bounty Killer, who will provide entertainment during the lunch hour.

Another member of the Jamaican team, Chris Campbell, said this is the best his BMW has ever been prepared and all he wants to do now is just deliver the goods.

Up to Friday afternoon, Peter Rae was still testing his RX7 Mazda. "Weather permitting it should be a good weekend for me, because I am coming to upset the apple cart," Rae said.

The Barbadians, a father and son combination of Doug and Mark Maloney, have not got into the pre-race banter. But the Guyanese are convinced that they will beat the Jamaicans. Kevin Jeffrey, who recently smashed the track record in Guyana, arrived in Jamaica in high spirits and has sent a message that he has never been so prepared previously.

The Guyanese team is completed by Harold Hopkinson, Andrew King, Afraz Ali and Sahyd Hassan. The other members of the Jamaican team are George Bayley, André Anderson, Kyle Gregg, Alan Chen, Sebastian Rae and Natasha Chang.