T&T Duo End Local Stranglehold On Rally Jamaica Title

Jamaica-born John Powell, competing under the Trinidadian flag, was named the provisional winner of Rally Jamaica 2011 last night - Photo by Errol Crosby
Glenroy Sinclair, Assignment Coordinator

Trinidad and Tobago ended Jamaica's 20-year dominance of the Petcom-sponsored Rally Jamaica event.

Last night, John Powell and his co-driver Nicholas Telfer were officially crowned winners of Rally Jamaica 2011, during the prize giving ceremony at The Knutsford Court Hotel, New Kingston.

Though they have come very close year after year, it was the first time since 1991 that a foreigner was winning Jamaica's premier rally title.

On that note, a group of Trinidadian who came here for the event had much to celebrate at The Knutsford Court Hotel poolside on Sunday night.

"The only reason why I am racing under the Trinidadian flag is because when my driver's licence expired it was renewed in Trinidad where I am living now. So I was using a Trinidadian driver's licence to compete and according to the rule, that is the country you represent," explained Powell, who is a Jamaican by birth.

Came all out

A successful businessman, who has been living in his adopted country for the last 11 years, Powell acquired a WRC Subaru S14, then came all out to end Jamaica's winning streak.

"It was a fantastic rally. The overseas competitors spoke highly of the event and promised to return next year," chief organiser of the event, Larry Henriques, told The Gleaner yesterday.

Chairman of Rally Jamaica 2011, Errol Anderson, had high praises for the team of marshals, whom he said ensured that the event was run on time.

"This is one of the most closely contested rallies we've had in a good while," said Anderson.

He stressed that while all the stages were challenging, the overnight rain which fell on Friday night, made the New Works stages very challenging on Saturday morning when the rally got under way.