MUD DOGS KICK OFF WITH ARMAG MARCH SAFARI

The Barbados Rally Club’s (BRC) Mud Dogs Safari Championship gets under way on Saturday (March 6), with the ARMAG March Safari, which has been set by reigning Champion Navigator and Driver Robert Warren and Darrin White.
After completing the route, White said: “I would like to let everyone know that we have set this Safari with mainly the novices and beginners in mind. Our goal was to set a Safari that was fun to drive with great off-road terrain and great views of the island . . . but not to get competitors lost.
“We have set it using all Tulip navigation, which is easiest for beginners. The conditions are very dry and, despite the many hills, no special four-wheel-drive vehicles are needed. We have tried to set an event to push competitors to keep on time and this is where we believe this Safari will be won.”
Twenty-eight crews have entered for this first of five rounds, including 10 in the Novice Class, some of whom have progressed from the Practice Safaris which have become a popular feature of the Mud Dogs calendar over the past couple of seasons.
The ARMAG March Safari will start from Warleigh Plantation; the event is concentrated in the north and central parishes, with a stop-over at approximately 6.30pm at Barclays Park and the finish slated for around 11.00pm at Chefette, Warrens.
Mud Dogs Chairman Leslie Alleyne adds: “As the re-checker, I had an absolutely brilliant time driving the route. Darrin and Robert are hoping it will be a rally won on timing but, with the terrain and very scenic driving, it will be difficult to keep up the average speed.
“There are two changes which competitors will need to note this year: first, we have reduced the penalty-free window from five minutes before and after the due time to three minutes before and after. Also, competitors will now be penalized for getting out of their vehicle near controls - this makes them have to navigate from their seat!”

The Prizegiving for the ARMAG March Safari will be held at 6.30pm at the Barbados Clay Target Shooting Association Club House on Monday, March 8, once the results have been declared final.

The BRC Mud Dogs Safari Championship will comprise seven events, five off-road navigational rallies run under the Safari title and two MudFests; trophies will be awarded at each event. As before, the four Safaris will include separate Championships for Navigator and Driver, with additional special awards including highest-placed novice and female; for the MudFests, there will be one championship rewarding the highest-placed drivers.

ARMAG March Safari – March 6
Mud Dogs BRC Safari Championship, round 1
Running order - Pro class
1 Barry Gale/Neil Barnard (Gale’s Agro Products/redlinefuels.com Ford Ranger)
2 Chris Armstrong/Wayne Clarke (Suzuki Samurai)
3 Biddy Barber/Tiffany Marshall (Aqua Pur/Castrol/Biddy's Information Daihatsu Feroza)
6 Michael Ward/Willie Hinds (Suzuki Samurai)
8 Wayne Manning/Yosuf Patel (Black Bess Quarry/Citgo Oils Toyota Hilux)
10 Dominic Brooker/Stephen Dear (SDRR Hydraulic & Industrial Spares/Next Generation Electrical/Joe Brooker's Building Toyota Hilux)
12 Damian Brooker/Derek Edwards (SDRR Hydraulic & Industrial Spares/Joe Brooker's Building Toyota Hilux)
13 Brett Barber/Warren Gollop (Mitsubishi Pajero)
14 Kreigg Yearwood/Dario Hoyte (Mitsubishi Pajero iO)
22 Dustin Edwards/Ryan Corbin (Blockman/SDRR Hydraulic & Industrial Spares/Crane & Equipment Toyota Hilux)
19 Audley Croney/Jeremy Croney (Suzuki Samurai)
20 Colin Goodman/Robin Hinds (Suzuki Samurai)
21 Sean Dowding/Kirk Watkins (Axis Inc Isuzu D-max)
22 Nicolas Lorde/Warrick Eastmond (Nicolls & Edghill Construction Suzuki Vitara)
23 Kirk King/Tricia King (K & N Equipment Suzuki Samurai)
24 Ray Straker/Ricky Holder (Stingray Car Rentals Toyota Land Cruiser)
26 Gregory Dickenson/Peter Bradshaw (Toyota Hilux)
27 Edson Arthur/Renata Roett (Suzuki Samurai)

Novice class
4 Ben Norris/Rhett Watson (Pitbull Energy Drink/ACE Engineering Land Rover Discovery) 5 Nicholas Pinto/Dominic Straker (Suzuki Samurai)
7 Richard Hinkson/tba (Suzuki Samurai)
9 Alexander Kellman/Dwain Clarke (Suzuki Samurai)
11 Anthony King/Dave Sealy (Lee’s Tyre Services/Dynamic Limousine Toyota Hilux)
15 Matthew Durant/Trina Griffith (Tint Black Foot Flat Land Rover Defender)
16 Adrian Sinckler/Andre Murrell (Suzuki Samurai)
17 Derek Pinto/Jamal Brathwaite (Suzuki Samurai)
25 Luke Gittens/Gary Mendes (LG Trading/Lunatics Inc Mitsubishi Pajero iO)
28 David Brewster/Winston Drakes (Marks Auto Spares/Champion Auto Wrecker Service Suzuki Samurai)

BRC Mud Dogs Safari Championship
Qualifying rounds:
Mar 6 - ARMAG March Safari
Apr 17 - Mud Dogs April Safari
May 1 - Mud Dogs May Day MudFest
Jun 26/27 - Mud Dogs June Safari
Aug 15 - Mud Dogs August MudFest
Sep 5 - Mud Dogs September Safari
Oct 17 - Mud Dogs October Safari