Provisional leaders of the Petcom/JMC International Stages Rally, Doug Gore and Mark Nelson, await the signal from Petcom's Marketing and Sales Manager Andrew Heron during the start of the event yesterday in Naggo Head, Portmore. Organiser of the event John Ralston (right) and Minister of Local Government, Community Development and Sports, Portia Simpson Miller (second right) look on.
-Norman Grindley photoGlenroy Sinclair,
Staff Reporter
AFTER SIX special stages yesterday, the Montego Bay team of Doug Gore and co-driver Marc Nelson, were the provisional leaders in the Petcom/JMC International Stages Rally, which concludes this afternoon in New Kingston.
The event got off to fine start early yesterday at the Petcom service station in Naggo Head. Minister of Local Government, Community Development and Sports, Portia Simpson Miller and Andrew Heron, Petcom's Marketing and Sales Manager, took turns in flagging the competitors on their way.
Up to the service halt in Bogwalk, the rally was marred by a few minor incidents. Rory King and Winston Dawson who co-drive a Subaru, rolled over on one of the stages between Bybrook, Wakesfield and Koorby in St. Catherine.
NO REPORTS OF ANY
SERIOUS INJURIES
They were unable to take further part event. Up to late yesterday evening there were no reports of any serious injuries, despite the number of cars which got damaged along the designated routes.
Defending champion Jeffery Panton and co-driver Justin Morin, along with Marc Evans and Robert Thelwell developed mechanical problems and dropped out of contention.
Gary Gregg and Hugh Hutchinson who were running well at one point, also developed mechanical problems and were far behind the leaders. The biggest surprise was the impressive performance of the Barbados contingent.
Roger Skeete in a Ford Escort was fifth behind the leaders. His fellow countryman, Trevor Manning and co-driver James Betts, were in sixth position. Peter Moodie Jnr. and Mike Fennell Jnr. were eighth, followed by the Japanese driver Toshiaki Endo and Colin Chambers in ninth. Unlike previous years, the stages in Bybrook and Wakesfield appeared to be less challenging. This was a plus for the drivers who easily negotiated the corners and through the "water splash" without encountering any obstacles.
The rally restarts at the Portmore Petcom service station at 6:00 a.m. today and will take the competitors along the designated route to Lydford in St. Ann.
