CHEFETTE STEPS IN TO SPONSOR MARCH SAFARI

  Chefette Restaurants has upped its support for the Barbados Rally Club (BRC) MudDogs Safari Championship. In addition to backing the Novice Championship, the Rookie Crew of the Year Award and next month’s April Safari, the company has stepped in as title sponsor for this Saturday’s (March 17) opening round.   MudDogs Chairman Warren Gollop said: “We found ourselves without our usual sponsor this year, due to the prevailing economic winds, and Chefette answered the call. We are very pleased to be able to double up on the opening two events of 2012 with Chefette Restaurants, who of course also keep our marshals topped up on sustenance throughout the year.”   Twenty-one crews were confirmed for the Chefette March Safari at last night’s (Tuesday) Briefing Meeting at the Barbados Clay Target Shooting Association (BCTSA) Club House at Searles, Christ Church. Reigning Champion Navigator Wayne Clarke heads the entry list, sitting with Chris Armstrong (Toyota Hilux), who lost the 2011 Driver Championship to Leslie Alleyne by a margin of just eight points.   They can expect a tough challenge from other experienced crews, led by Audley and Jeremy Croney (CC Motorsports/Sweet Temptations Suzuki Samurai), Ben Norris and Darnley Rayside (Electric Avenue Land Rover Discovery) and Michael Ward and Willie Hinds (Samurai).   Among the Chefette Novice crews, last year’s Championship runners-up Matthew Durant and Trina Griffith head the entry in their Green Leaf Design/Midas Magic Auto Valet Suzuki Jimny, with reigning Chefette Rookies of the Year Aswad Bannister and Nyere Jones (Toyota Hilux) also hoping to start the season on a high note.   The first crew is scheduled to leave the start at Mahogany Ridge, St Thomas, at 2.01pm on Saturday, heading for route one in the island’s northern parishes; the Stop-Over will be at approximately 6.30pm at Chefette Speightstown. Route two will start with a Spectator Challenge at Maynard’s Plantation, St Peter at 7.00pm. The route has been set by Ryan Corbin and Dustin Edwards, MudDogs Champion Navigator and Driver respectively in 2010.   The Prizegiving for the BRC MudDogs March Safari will be held at the BCTSA Club House on Monday (March 17), once results are made final.   BRC MudDogs Safari Championship & Chefette MudDogs Safari Novice Championship Round 1 - March 17 - Chefette March Safari Chefette Novice Class 1 Derek Pinto/Jamal Brathwaite (Jeep Grand Cherokee) 2 John Pinto/Nicholas Branson (Suzuki Jimny) 4 Dave Gibson/Andy Williams (Suzuki Samurai) 5 Theo Waite/Curtis Grazette (Atlantis Seafoods/Betta Computers Suzuki Samurai) 8 Dominic Straker/Shane Defreitas (Nissan Patrol) 14 Matthew Durant/Trina Griffith (Green Leaf Design/Midas Magic Auto Valet Suzuki Jimny) 19 Aswad Bannister/Nyere Jones (Toyota Hilux) 20 Simon Parravicino/Andrew Croney (Sweet Temptations Suzuki Samurai) 21 Damien Johnson/Nicholas Pinto (Suzuki Samurai)   Pro Class 3 Chris Armstrong/Wayne Clarke (Toyota Hilux) 6 Sean Mottley/Michelle Oliver (CIBC First Caribbean International Bank Suzuki Vitara) 7 Nicolas Lorde/Warrick Eastmond (Niccolls & Edghill Construction/Britpart/Comfeet/Sam Lorde’s Activity Centre Land Rover Discovery) 9 Judy-Ann Bradshaw/Peter Bradshaw (Land Rover Defender 110) 10 Gregory Dickenson/Rorie McConney (Toyota Hilux) 11 Ben Norris/Darnley Rayside (Electric Avenue Land Rover Discovery) 12 Kerry Renee/Jason Downey (Suzuki Samurai) 13 tba/Kirk Watkins (Aerotec Services tba) 15 Mark Western/Robin Hinds (Yardman/Kar Parts Store Nissan Patrol) 16 Adrian Sinckler/Andre Murrell (Suzuki Samurai) 17 Michael Ward/Willie Hinds (Suzuki Samurai) 18 Audley Croney/Jeremy Croney (CC Motorsports/Sweet Temptations Suzuki Samurai)   Forthcoming events Round 2 - April 14 - Chefette April Safari MudFest - May 1 Round 3 - June 23/24 - BRC MudDogs June Safari Round 4 - September 16 - BRC MudDogs September Safari MudFest - October 20 Round 5 - November 11 - BRC MudDogs November Safari   For further media information, robin@bradfax.com Web sites: www.barbadosrallyclub.com, www.muddogsbarbados.com