The pair of Chris Armstrong and Wayne Clarke defied the odds and strong opposition to drive away provisional winners of the Shelbury Construction September Safari of the Barbados Rally Club’s MudDogs Safari and Chefette Novice Championship last Sunday.
At the wheel of a well prepared Toyota Hilux and knowing that a good result could be the difference between winning and losing the overall title this year, Armstrong and Clarke ended with 410 penalties after turning in outstanding performances during the morning and afternoon sessions, as well as in the challenges that attracted 23 pairs.
A cool Armstrong was reserved in his comment, perhaps until the results are declared official. All he would say was that the safari was a good event with some interesting sections and that he and navigator Clarke were happy with their performance and that of the Hilux.
Mark Western and Robin Hinds were also impressive throughout the day in the Yardman/Kar Parts Store Nissan Patrol and ended with 596 penalties, while the father and son pair of Audley and Jeremy Croney – in the CC Motorsports/Sweet Temptations Suzuki Samurai – collected 620 penalties for their efforts during the safari set by experienced rallyists Biddy Barber and Warrick Eastmond.
Gregory Dickenson and Rorie McConney, driving a Toyota Hilux and looking to move up the points table from sixth place before the safari started, stayed on course to enhance their position and ended fourth with 786 penalties.
The father and daughter team of Paul and Shane Marshall, in a Mitsubishi L200, finished fifth with 790 penalties. (TT)
