Glenroy Sinclair, Assignment Coordinator

Teams from Barbados, St Vincent and a half team out of Trinidad and Tobago are the overseas participants slated to take part in the motor rally being co-hosted by the Jamaica Millennium Motoring Club (JMMC), Hilton Hotel and Petcom.

The event will run from December 2-6.

Errol Anderson, president of the JMMC, said: "The low turnout of regional and international competitors is definitely a clear indication of the far-reaching effects of the global recession that has taken a grip of the economies around the world. Not even Trinidad was able to send a real team."

Jordan Powell, who was born in Jamaica and lives and races in Trinidad, is partnered by Jamaican Chad Pearson, who will be entering the JMMC rally, which is slated to take place on the Lydford Farms in Moneague, St Ann.

Larry Henriques, the event organiser, pointed out that "Unlike last year the event will begin in New Kingston with a 'parc expose' on Friday, December 4 ... this will not be accompanied by racing; instead, competitors and sponsors alike will have the opportunity of showcasing their products and allow the public to view the different machines before the onslaught of the next two days."

Biggest event

While delivering the keynote address, Kingston's Mayor Desmond McKenzie said: "Rally Jamaica is the second-longest running international rally in the Caribbean and, after 18 years, it has become one of the biggest annual motorsport events in the region."

Mike Fennell and Jeffrey Panton are the defending champions.

Fennel has actually thrown down the gauntlet to his fellow competitors, saying: "As the defending champions we will be first on the road. We are already number one so I dare anyone who wants to take our crown to catch us if they can."