Mixed reactions to motorsport revamp

RALLYSPORT championship’s recent revamp is being met with mixed reactions from motorsport drivers.

Peter Clarke, Jamaica Millennium Motoring Club (JMMC) chairman, announced in January that the championship is now divided into three individual awards for dexterities, sprints and rallies.

KING… losing that award is a big deal 2/2

“What this mandate does is to encourage the large variety of drivers, who used to have to contend for one title, to either branch out into new disciplines or focus on what they are good at because they will be recognised and rewarded for their achievements. It is more win-win than win-lose this way,” Clarke told Auto.

However, two Sundays ago, a mere 11 drivers duked it out in the dirt for class honours and points towards the 2013 championship at Badda Badda Raceway in Richmond, St Ann. Only a few die-hard supporters were on hand to witness the event.

“It might look worrisome at first, but it’s early on in the game. This was the first event of the season, so a number of drivers aren’t really ready for action yet. Many are still doing repairs from damage suffered during Rally Jamaica last year,” Clarke said.

Joel Jackson gave the move a thumbs-up.

“I started rallying in 2009 and had to take a break because of sponsorship issues. I think this will allow for each discipline to be marketed individually and that’s not a bad thing,” said Jackson, who started the sprint season with a win.

Daryl ‘Flat Cat’ King, however, sees things differently.

“For me, the Rallysport Drivers Championship trophy was the most prestigious award in motorsports. Losing that award is a big deal for a lot of us who have been trying to win it for years now,” said King.