TOP-CLASS ENTRY FOR LOOSE SEASON OPENER

Ten of the island's fastest four-wheel-drive cars should provide excitement aplenty as the Barbados Rally Club (BRC) moves into the second half of its 2003 season with the BRC Loose Sprint, to be run at the Vaucluse Raceway on Sunday morning (August 24).
With three cars each in Modified 9 and Modified 8, plus four in Group N, one of the most exciting loose events for some time is in prospect. And some drivers - Trevor 'Electric Micey' Manning and Roger 'The Sheriff' Skeete in particular - will be keen to make their presence felt, after disappointing returns from the recent Rally Barbados.
Rarely seen in action at the St Thomas facility, fast-rising star Roger Mayers (Automotive Art/Shell Helix Ford Focus WRC) will face Paul 'Surfer' Bourne (Banks/Pirelli/Texaco/Williams Industries Subaru Impreza WRC) and Skeete (Texaco/Michelin/McEnearney Quality/Consolidated Finance/Carib Ford Escort WRC) in Modified 9.
Meanwhile Manning (NP/Sunbeach/Kerridge Simpson Motors Rally Team Mitsubishi Evo V) faces tough competition in Modified 8 from Sean Dowding (ProPac/Globe Finance/NPK Construction Mitsubishi Evo V) and Rally Barbados winner Roger Hill (Exxon Mobil/Nassco/Michelin Motormac Toyota Celica GT4).
Although Group N is depleted by the absence of Brian Gill, Geoffrey Noel and Peter Thompson, their cars out of action since Rally Barbados, a tremendous battle is expected between points-leader Barry Gale (NP/Sunbeach/Kerridge Simpson Motors Rally Team Mitsubishi Evo VI) and Harold Morley (Sunbeach Communications Inc Subaru Impreza STI), with Mikey Hassell (Subaru Impreza WRX) and Reggie Gill (Mazda 323 4x4) also aiming to be on the pace.
The course is approximately three kilometres, starting outside the Vaucluse Raceway and entering through the southern gate; cars will follow the outer lane of the regular RallySprint course, pass beneath the bridge, then turn left through the inner hairpin and follow the course back towards the start & finish line. Just where the RallySprint start lights are positioned, cars will then turn sharp left over old ‘esses’ part of track, pass over bridge, then follow the sweeping northern loop in the outside lane back round to the start & finish line.
The 25-strong entry, which may rise in number with late entries on Sunday morning, also includes two of the three Toyota Starlets, which provided such a thrilling contest in Rally Barbados, with Barry Mayers facing Cliff Roett in Modified Open.
There is no charge for spectators on Sunday, although the southern spectator area will not be open; there will be an excellent view from both the northern spectator bank and the pits, where refreshments will be on sale.

Entry list at Thursday evening close follows (in alphabetical order by group)
For further information, contact Robin Bradford (treelogy@sunbeach.net or 422 1829)
BRC web site: www.rallyclub.com

BRC Drivers Championship 2003 – round 5
Event – BRC Loose Sprint, August 24, 2003

Modified 9 (including World Rally Cars)
Paul Bourne (Banks/Pirelli/Texaco/Williams Industries Subaru Impreza WRC)
Roger Mayers (Automotive Art/Shell Helix/McEnearney Quality Ford Focus WRC)
Roger Skeete (Texaco/Michelin/McEnearney Quality/Consolidated Finance/Carib Ford Escort WRC)
Modified 8 (Group A)
Sean Dowding (ProPac/Globe Finance/NPK Construction Mitsubishi Evo V)
Roger Hill (Exxon Mobil/Nassco/Michelin Motormac Toyota Celica GT4)
Trevor Manning (NP/Sunbeach/Kerridge Simpson Motors Rally Team Mitsubishi Evo V)
Production 4 (Group N)
Barry Gale (NP/Sunbeach/Kerridge Simpson Motors Rally Team Mitsubishi Evo VI)
Reggie Gill (McEnearney Quality/Toyo Tyres/Carib Mazda 323 4x4)
Mikey Hassell (Willie's Diving & Marine/Details Inc Subaru Impreza WRX)
Harold Morley (Sunbeach Communications Inc Subaru Impreza STI)
Open Modified
Brett Clarke (NP/Sunbeach/Kerridge Simpson Motors Rally Team Suzuki Swift)
Lindsay Farmer (Nassco/Phillips Lighting/St James Travel/Mobil 1 Toyota Starlet Turbo)
Nicholas Gill (McEnearney Quality/Toyo Tyres/Carib Mazda Lantis)
Graham Gittens (Nassco/Phillips Lighting/St James Travel/Mobil 1 Toyota Starlet Turbo)
Barry Mayers (Automotive Art/Shell Helix Toyota Starlet)
Cliff Roett/Rhett Watson (Michelin/Nassco/Lucky Horseshoe/Roett's Garage Toyota Starlet)
Modified 7
Edward Corbin (Automotive Art/Corbin's Garage/Klark-Odio Toyota Corolla SR)
John Corbin (Corbin's Garage/Klark-Odio Toyota Corolla)
Adrian Linton (AutoZone/Crane & Equipment/Williams Industries Vauxhall Astra)
Modified 6
Neil Armstrong (Abacus Builders Toyota Corolla GTi)
Sean Gill (NP/Sunbeach/Kerridge Simpson Motors Rally Team Suzuki Ignis)
Kirk Watkins (Abacus Builders Toyota Corolla GTi)
Modified 5
Neil Barnard (NP/Sunbeach/Kerridge Simpson Motors Rally Team Opel Corsa)
Roger Marshal (Photo Finish One Hour Photo/Agfa Film Toyota Starlet)
Production 3
Freddie Gale (Gale's Hatcheries/Castrol Toyota Starlet)