Mark “Ointment” Thompson has moved up to Group N for Sol Rally Barbados on June 1 and 2.
Thompson has replaced his faithful Toyota Starlet, in which he was entered in Modified 6, with the ex-Mark Hamilton Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX and will have the livery of Glassesco Hardware/Stag Beer/NKM Clothing/Bio Beauty by the time the the 22-stage rally goes under starter’s orders.
But Thompson will be on a steep learning curve with the new machine as he will have to contend with Irish pairs such as Martin Donnelly and Brian Docherty, in the Eire Concrete Inc. Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX, and Michael O’Leary and John O’Leary in the O’Leary Construction Inc/Feldman Lumber Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X.
There will also be Andrew Mallalieu and Geoff Goddard in the Terra Caribbean Subaru Impreza N10; Geoff Noel and Nigel Reece in the Kick Energy Drink/Sentry Insurance Brokers/
Automotive Art/CIAC Air Conditioners/Mix 96.9FM/Dewalt Tools Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX and Terry Sealy and Rommel Coppin in the Speedline Performance Auto Subaru Impreza N12 WRX STI.
Thompson will have Guyana’s Kurt Seabra as co-driver, but will miss Sunday’s Scotiabank King of the Hill, as it clashes with the opening round of the Caribbean Motor Racing Championship (CMRC) at Jamaica’s Dover Raceway, in which he is entered.
The Seaboard Marine CMRC Group 2 champion made a clean sweep of the three races allotted to the group at the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Car Club’s (GMRC) international event last year.
Veteran Harold Morley has also switched to Group N, with a Subaru Impreza N14 STI, and will have Jamaica’s Mark Nelson as his co-driver. He was originally entered in Group B in a Porsche GT3.
Also switching groups is the pair of Trevor and Talia Mapp in a Mitsubishi Mirage RS, who are moving from M6 to the Clubman class due to a typographical error.
Meanwhile, the former Banks Brewery building in Wildey, St Michael, will be “Rally Central”, the workshop for overseas crews who do not have a working relationship with friends or businesses in Barbados.
The old Brewery provides secure storage, access to knowledgeable local engineers, and vital infrastructure, particularly for first-timers.
