RAIN ADDS TO OFF-ROAD CHALLENGE

The recent heavy rains will add to the challenge faced by competitors in the Barbados Rally Club's (BRC) August Safari, slated to start from Simpson Motors, Warrens at 9.00am on Sunday (August 27); 30 crews have so far entered, with more expected before the Thursday 5.00pm deadline.
Set by reigning Champion Navigator and Driver, Neil Barnard and Barry Gale, the route will cover around 100 kilometres and travel through St Thomas, St James and St Peter, plus parts of St Andrew, St George, St John and St Phillip before the finish at approximately 5.00pm at the BCTSA Clubhouse at Searles; crews will be required to use a mix of Tulip and BRC methods of navigation.
A highlight of the day for competitors and spectators alike will be a 'driver's challenge' at the Vaucluse Raceway at around 11.45am, just before the lunchtime stop-over. Barnard explains: "This is not a 'mud'-type test, but more a dexterity challenge - it is on the side of a hill, where drivers will have to drive through various 'gates' in a particular sequence, without stopping or reversing. Penalties will be assessed on hitting a gate, stopping or reversing."
The Champion Navigator continued: "Our aim with this event was to set a Safari that wasn't too long, but was interestingly-paced in terms of change of navigation and terrain and, at the same time, not terrifyingly rough or impossible. There will be plenty of pick-up points and help from marshals - we are very keen to encourage competitors to enter this and future events."
The weekend's event is the third round of the 2006 BRC Safari Championship, currently led by husband and wife team Leslie and Annalee Alleyne in the Autozone Inc/Quality Tyre/Barbados Muffler Centre Mitsubishi Io. Second in the Toyo Tires BRC February Safari in their former Suzuki Samurai, then winners of the tough Toyota BRC June Safari in the Mitsubishi, they lead the standings with 118 points.
Second, 14 points behind, are Paul Marshall and Ian Hutson (Mitsubishi L200), with Audley Croney and Geoffrey Goddard (Suzuki Samurai) third; all three crews are entered for Sunday's event, so an exciting contest is promised.
A shake-up in the order is certainly on the cards, as Chris Beckley, one of the drivers tied in fourth place (with Robert Warren) is missing the August Safari; his place alongside regular navigator Warren Gollop in the Essco Mitsubishi Pajero will be taken by Brett Barber.
There is an encouragingly-high entry in the Novice section - 14 of the 30 crews so far listed - where current points-leaders Sean Mottley and Kreigg Yearwood (Suzuki Vitara) can expect a strong challenge from Chris Choat Jnr and Justin Inniss in the Ace Towing Range Rover Special.

BRC August Safari - Sunday, August 27
2006 Barbados Rally Club Safari Championship, round 3

Provisional entry list at August 23 (in alphabetical order):
Pro class
Leslie Alleyne/Annalee Alleyne (Autozone Inc/Quality Tyre/Barbados Muffler Centre Mitsubishi Io)
Chris Armstrong/Wayne Clarke (Suzuki Samurai)
Brett Barber/Warren Gollop (Electric Sales & Service Ltd Mitsubishi Pajero)
Peter Bradshaw/Ryan Marshall (Esso Tweedside Land Rover Series 3)
Greg Cozier/Antonio da Silva (Hyundai Commercial & Industrial Land Rover Defender)
Audley Croney/Geoffrey Goddard (Simpson Motors/JCB Excavators Suzuki Samurai)
Justin Cuke/Jeremy Croney (Suzuki Samurai)
Noel Edwards/Jason Downey (Western Union/Rallyman.com Suzuki Vitara)
Lindsay Farmer/Megan Blades (Rallynut.com Suzuki Samurai)
Sean Gibbs/Michelle Barber (Boardwalk Realty Toyota Hilux)
Paul Marshall/Ian Hutson (Mitsubishi L200)
Shawn Russell/Curtis Greaves (Mitsubishi Pajero)
John Sealy/David Barnard (Land Rover Defender)
Timothy Trotman/Trevor Mapp (Suzuki Samurai)
Ian Warren/Robert Warren (Simpson Motors Isuzu Pickup)
Mark Western/Robin Hinds (Yardman/The Kar Parts Store Suzuki Samurai)

Novice class
Damion Bradshaw/Michael Skeete (Suzuki Samurai)
Chris Choat Jnr/Justin Inniss (ACE Towing Range Rover Special)
Ryan Corbin/Dustin Edwards (Toyota Hilux)
Bernard Grace/Brandon Grace (Suzuki Samurai)
Rory Gray/Dane McConney (Land Rover Defender 110)
Hadley Green/Steve Watson (Toyota Hilux)
Anthony King/Dave Sealy (Dynamic Limo/D & N Rental Limo & Taxi Service Toyota Hilux)
Kirk King/Tricia King (Suzuki Samurai)
Sean Mottley/Kreigg Yearwood (Suzuki Vitara)
Ben Norris/Rhett Watson (Trivial Pursuit Land Rover Defender)
Kirk Phillips/Kristian Yearwood (Suzuki Vitara)
Kerry Renee/Winston Drakes (Suzuki Samurai)
Adrian Sinckler/Ansley Edey (Suzuki Samurai)
Anthony Whitehead/Andrew Croney (Mitsubishi Pajero)

2006 Barbados Rally Club Safari Championship - qualifying rounds:
Round 1 - February 12
Round 2 - June 10/11
Round 3 - August 27
Round 4 - November 12
* drivers will count their scores from all rounds

For further information, robin@bradfax.com