AS the Rallysport season gets ready to start on Sunday at Ironshore, Montego Bay, the genre could find its ranks bolstered by two big names: Doug Gore and Kyle Gregg.

Gore, who officially declared rallying ‘dead’ several years ago before fully committing to circuit racing, plans to return to the sport that made him famous at the first rally scheduled for 2014.

“It all began at Rally Jamaica last year when a friend asked me if I missed rallying,” Gore told Auto.

The answer was yes. However, what he didn’t miss was competing against the all-conquering World Rally Cars, which he holds responsible for the sport’s decline, so Gore will take a more modest route back into the sport.

“I secured a deal to campaign a Honda Civic Type R. It is fully prepared for rally and on its way to the island. I’ll be powered by my usual sponsors Boomerang Tyres, Maxxis Tyres, and Sherwin Williams,” said Gore.

Those expecting a reuniting of one of the most successful pairings in local rallying, Gore and navigator Mark Nelson, will be disappointed.

“Mark won’t be co-driving for me. Ian Banks will hold that seat for now,” explained Gore.

Former Dover Champion and front-wheel lap record-holder at the circuit isn’t so modest, preferring to jump straight into the four-wheel drive furor with a rally-prepped Lancer Evolution IX. His return to the sport where he took the 2011 Rallysport title is partly due to his dissatisfaction with the 2014 Dover rules.

“I’ve always loved rallying. It’s more of a challenge, but having to add 337 pounds to my car to make the minimum weight for the class is just nonsense,” said Gregg.

Gregg says his current aim is Rally Barbados in May, but he will contest local Rallysport events as time and budget allow.

— Rory Daley