Glenroy Sinclair, Assignment Coordinator

After six months of intense preparation the Barbadians have arrived for the first leg of the Caribbean Drivers' Championship, which gets under way at the Dover Raceway, St Ann, on Labour Day, May 25.

"It won't be the fastest car that will win, but the most reliable car on the day," a confident Mark Maloney told The Gleaner yesterday.

Reports are that the Barbadians, who are staying at one of the top hotels in St Ann, braved the foggy conditions and light drizzle yesterday to practise on the challenging Dover circuit.

Fierce challenges

Maloney has declared himself as the team leader for the Barbadian contingent, which includes his brother, Stuart Maloney, the current Caribbean champion driver, and father Douglas.

"We are happy to be here and at the moment we are looking about our cars and also to the fierce challenges of Doug Gore, Peter 'Bull' Thompson, David Summerbell, Chris Campbell, Peter Rae and Gary Williams," commented Mark Maloney, who will be driving a RX7 Mazda.

The team, which arrived in the island on Wednesday afternoon, said they have spent some long hours preparing for Monday's meet.

Their aim is to grab vital points which should put them in a commanding position ahead of the second leg of the championship.Meanwhile, three members of the Cayman team arrived in the island yesterday - one driver, Junior Hydes, and two pit crew. Hydes will be driving a Mitsubishi Evolution 3.