Glenroy Sinclair, Staff Reporter
LEFT: Gary Gregg and co-driver Hugh Hutchinson negotiates a turn in their Ford Focus WRC during the JMMC Petcom All Stages Rally at Bog Walk, St. Catherine yesterday. Gregg was named the provisional winner. RIGHT:
Gary Gregg (right) and co-driver Hugh Hutchinson relax after completing the JMMC Petcom All Stages Rally at Bog Walk, St. Catherine yesterday. The team was named provisional winners of the event. - PHOTOS BY ANDREW SMITH/PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR
THE JAMAICAN team of driver Gary Gregg and co-driver Hugh Hutchinson were declared provisional winners of the 2005 JMMC/Petcom Stages Rally, which concluded yesterday afternoon in New Kingston.
Up to press time, two former champions Doug Gore/Mark Nelson and David Summerbell Jnr./Stephen Gunter were provisionally placed at second and third respectively.
The highest placed overseas team was the combination of the United Kingdom's Kevin Proctor and Mike Gilby.
Proctor, in a pre-rally interview with The Gleaner last Tuesday, said his plan was to try and finish the event, then return next year for a shot at the title.
DROP-OUTS
But as was expected, a number the cars were unable to stand up to the conditions and were unable to finish. This included the Subaru WRC driven by former World Rally Champion, Didier Auriol, who did not restart yesterday.
The defending champion, Richie Rerrie, with his Subaru Impreza WRX Sti, dropped out at the end of day one because of mechanical problems. The Barbadian pair of Trevor "Micey" Manning/James Betts, who finished third in the event last year, also dropped out on Saturday, but rejoined the rally yesterday morning.
Peter Moodie Jnr. who was doing well up to the stage, heading back to Kingston, encountered a mishap and was unable to finish. He was running fourth at the time.
Driving a red, white and blue Ford Focus WRC car, the 43-year-old Gregg was at his best yesterday. He easily negotiated the challenging terrains at the Wakefield and Bybrook stages in St. Catherine.
He was among several drivers who entertained the large crowd, with stunt-like driving, while dashing through the 'water splash' stage.
President of the Jamaica Millennium Motoring Club (JMMC) which put on the rally, Errol Anderson, described the two-day event as very intense.
"The first day (Saturday) was difficult and because of the weather we had to cancel some of the stages for that day. The action today (yesterday) was intense," said the JMMC president.
The JA3 Class was won by Christopher McFarlane and co-driver Tanya Thompson in a 2003 Peugeot 206 Sports Wagon.
