THE Bog Walk leg of the Jamaica Millennium Motoring Club (JMMC) Rally scheduled for Sunday, December 5, is promising bigger and better races despite a drop in the number of competitors.

Last year, in spite of slippery conditions following a torrential downpour, the Tru-Juice-sponsored rally was a massive success that saw Jeffrey Panton dominating the race in his WRC Ford Focus.

This year, the event is expected to be bigger and better as racers converge on the picturesque track on Sunday, rally organiser Larry Henriques said.

For the past 10 years Tru-Juice has been partnering with the JMMC, to stage the loose gravel stages rally in the drink company’s vineyards at Bog Walk, St Catherine.

According to Henriques, the JMMC Invitational Stages Rally will, however, see fewer competitors this year over last.

“A dip in participation for the 19th staging of the JMMC/Petcom Invitational Stages Rally Jamaica set for December 3-5 is not expected to lessen the excitement and competitiveness of the marquee motorsport event of

the English-speaking Caribbean,” Henriques declared yesterday.

There will be an improvement in the quality of vehicles — with no less than seven WRC cars and a WRC Suzuki thrown in for good measure — that will race in the island for the first time, said the organisers.

In addition, there will be new and longer route stages that have been test-driven and are “sure to enhance the competitiveness of the event and provide safer and better viewing for spectators.”

Defending champion Gary ‘The Colonel’ Gregg along with co-driver Hugh Hutchinson, will head a competitive contingent of local drivers at the highly anticipated event.

Henriques is expecting a field of some 30 drivers for the official start in St Ann at 8:00 am on Saturday. Those drivers will move to Bog Walk on Sunday for some seven hours of competition beginning at 7:30 am.

The overseas WRC entrants will once again be led by Roger “The Sheriff” Skeete in his WRC Subaru Impreza S12.

In the meantime, Kim Lee, head of marketing at Tru Juice, is anticipating a fun filled day for competitors and spectators alike.

“This rally will be a day of excitement and entertainment for the whole family. In addition to the exhilaration on the track, we will be putting our own stamp on the event with our refreshing products, drink mixes and an entertainment package featuring ZJ Sparks and Elva as well as a number of celebrities,” said Lee.

“I encourage everyone to come out and support the drivers while having a good time on us.”