LOCAL rallying has been taking a hit in recent times. Competitors are fewer than in previous years. The main complaint — the high cost associated with the sport.

Larry Henriques, however, believes otherwise. He feels the current mindset of some drivers needs to shift gears.

“We’ve become used to instant in gratification motorsports. They’re treating everything like a circuit race or a sprint. So a rally is a whole day, two-day sprint to them,” Henriques told Auto.

Henriques, organiser of the Jamaica Millennium Motoring Club (JMMC) Rally Jamaica Gravel Series, which begins on Sunday with the Tru Juice Sports Club, Bog Walk, St Catherine, said the key to rally is “planning, preparation and patience.”

For this calendar year, there will be three events that culminate with Rally Jamaica in December.

Hotshot Jordan Powell, who walked away with three victories at Badda Badda Raceway in St Ann last month, said he intends to throw his hat in the ring.

“I plan on entering. But I am down to two, as my third teammate Richard Rerrie withdrew. I’m currently looking for a replacement. As for the series, I think it’s a great idea drawing more attention to the championship. For myself, the rally sport title is the aim, so the prize money would be a welcome bonus,” he said.

Teams are vying for a purse of $1 million. The first place pay-day is $525,000. A minimum of three cars are allowed per team. There will be individual sponsor gifts at each event, but overall series class winners will have 40 per cent reduced from their Rally Jamaica entry fee.

Daryl King, who was second to Powell at the St Ann meet in February, has joined forces with his rival in vying for rally supremacy.

“I’ve teamed up with Jordan Powell. So we’re searching for one more person due to Richard’s unfortunate exit. Overall, I think this is a great initiative to help the sport,” King said.

Henriques said successful participants will be positioned nicely to benefit from the meet.

“Sponsors and drivers will have plenty exposure due to our media package. The teams will learn that they have to work together, have machinery, and the driving talent to finish a rally if they want to win,” he added.

Rally Jamaica 2011 was won by driver John Powell, a Jamaican competing for Trinidad and Tobago, and Nicolas Telfer in their Subaru WRC S14. The year before, Jamaica’s Gary ‘The Colonel’ Gregg and co-driver Hugh Hutchinson took the championship in their Ford Focus WRC.