Regional drivers arrive for clash at Dover
Published:Friday | May 20, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Glenroy Sinclair, Assignment Coordinator
Members of the Barbadian and Guyanese contingents arrived in the island on Wednesday for the fierce battle expected with the Jamaicans, in the first leg of the 2011 Caribbean Motor Racing Championship (CMRC), which gets under way on Labour Day, May 23, at the Dover Raceway, St Ann.
Bracing for the battle are the father-and-son team of Doug and Mark Maloney of Barbados. Doug will be driving an Audi A4 Quattro Turbo, while his son will be aboard a Mazda RX3. They will be supported by Stuart Williams, who is equipped with a Lotus Elise Turbo.
"The car is about 150 lighter now and we've changed the suspension to simplify it. I think that we are going to be very competitive," boasted Mark Maloney.
"We will be putting our best foot forward and hopefully be in the top three.
Also arriving on Wednesday was Kevin Jeffrey, the man who helped Guyana to cop the regional title last year. He is back with a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. He was accompanied by Guyana's top motorcyclist, Stephen Vieara.
Jamaica's chances of taking the chequered flag in this year's competition will rest heavily on the shoulders of St Andrew-based businessman David Summerbell and his Mitsubishi Evolution 8 race car.
no pushover
"Kevin Jeffrey is no pushover. He was the man who beat Summerbell (David) last year in Guyana. So I am expecting a tough battle," said Hilary Jardine, president of the Jamaica Race Drivers Club.
All being well, he will be supported by Peter Rae, George Bayley, Chris Campbell, Marck Carey and Dean Shaw. Unfortunately, because of technicalities, Doug Gore and his top-of-the-line Audi TT will not compete in the three CMRC events.
"Because of the required weight, I will not be competing in the three CMRC races, but my fans will have an opportunity to see the rematch between myself and Summerbell in the Thundersport and Modified Production Four events," said Gore.
He says the Audi is much faster now, especially over the first half of the circuit, and he now has a better feel of the car. Based on the condition of the car, Summerbell has an uphill task and may want to concentrate on the CMRC events.