Panton Glenroy Sinclair, Assignment Co-ordinator
After last year's dismal performance at Barbados' premier rally event, Jamaica's top ranked rally driver, Jeffrey Panton, and his nine-member crew will depart for the eastern Caribbean island this afternoon, full of confidence to claim the checkered flag.
"This is the best we have ever prepared for Barbados," said Panton, who is one of two Jamaicans to have ever won the event.
Last year, the Barbados Rally was won by Kingston businessman Gary Gregg. This year's event is scheduled to begin on Saturday and end on Sunday. Panton's co-driver will be Justin Morin, a former St. George's College schoolboy.
The Barbados Rally is one of the Caribbean's Premier Motorsport events, attracting competitors and spectators from Britain, Ireland, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Scotland, Spain, Holland and the the United States of America.
According to reports, this year's event promises to be one of the most competitive as no less than seven World Rally Cars (WRC) have entered. These awesome machines are ex-factory cars that were mostly driven in the past by world champions.
Main challenge
Panton, who will be driving his Jamaica-built Mitsubishi Evolution IX, believes his main challenge come from the WRC cars.
"We intend to be as competitive as we can possibly be against the WRC machines, but at the same time we will thrill the spectators," said Panton.
"The Bajan roads are quite slippery and some degree of caution needs to be exercised when competing there. However, if we are to even have a chance against the WRC machinery, all caution needs to be thrown to the wind and we need to be at 150% from the start," added Panton.
President of the Jamaica Millennium Motoring Club (JMMC), Errol Anderson, expect Panton to finish in the top.
"For him to win, he will have to be in top flight against the WRC cars the year's event will be more competitive, I am giving Gary Gregg the edge," said Anderson, who will be in Barbados to watch the event.
Among the other Jamaicans who will be taking part are Tarik Minott, Chris 'Teach' McFarlane and representatives from his Jam Speed team. Outside of the Jamaicans, other top drivers the fans will be looking out for are Trevor 'Micey' Manning, John Powell and Kevin Practor.
