“The car will be completely new to me, but I am looking forward to having a good time with it.”
Those are the words of Sean Gill, who along with co-driver Michael “Zippy” Cummins, is preparing for this weekend’s Rally Jamaica.
The Simpson Motors/Automotive Art/Shell V-Power Suzuki SX4 WRC was officially launched in Jamaica.
Gill, who has hardly been in the car since testing it in Britain in August last year, admitted to WEEKENDSPORT that he was rusty due to months of inactivity.
He said his “seat-time” would be acquired as the rally progressed.
“It would be the first time I am really driving the car and I will have to do the best I can,” he said.
“My co-driver is ready and I am physically fit for the rally and will have to keep out of trouble and be around at the finish.”
Gill said that although the playing field would be different, he knew Jamaica well and had brought over the mechanics and engineers with the car and they had reported no issues.
Gill said he wanted to give a good account of himself over the 26-stage event which has attracted competitors from Britain and the Caribbean.
According to Gill, Rally Jamaica is a long and tough rally and takes out many crews along the way.
“You must have a plan and work that plan and make it to the finish.”
Gill said he expected great competition to come from Jamaicans Gary Gregg and Hugh Hutchinson, as well as compatriot and Sol Rally Barbados winner Roger “The Sheriff” Skeete, and Garry Clarke.
The other Barbadian pairs are Dean Serrao and James Betts, and Trevor “Electric Micey” Manning and Harold Morley.
Other overseas entrants include Rob Swann and Darren Garrod, the British duo who won Group N in Sol Rally Barbados.