The rallysport season opened strong as 30 competitors showed up to participate in Asphalt Assault: Dirt Splurt, hosted by Team Streetz on Sunday, March 29, in Bog Walk, St Catherine.

At the end of it all, it was Montegonian Chris-Jon Addison who topped the field in his Toyota Corolla.

“To be honest, it’s a very technical course out there; slippery and then there’s the concrete part,” Addison told the Jamaica Observer’s weekly Auto magazine.

Addison was at the top of the field from the very first run, opening with a 1:07.763 run and closing with a 1:02.500 on his third attempt at the course to end the day clinching the rear-wheel drive class with limited-slip differential (LSD) to boot.

However, it was not a runaway victory as his fellow Montegonians kept him honest for the entire event, posting times close enough to keep things exciting for the crowd.

Among these fellow competitors was his father, Christopher, making a long-awaited return to motorsports.

“I’ve actually passed on this car to my little brother, but he’s away for school right now. Still, we decided to bring it out. Big up to daddy, he’s back in the seat after years. He was all hyped up, and I said I wasn’t going to put on too much pressure on him for the first run, but, as you know, we came here for the win,” the younger Addison said.

Brandon King, better known for his rally-prepared Subaru Impreza WRX STi, took the four-wheel drive class victory in the most nondescript vehicle in the field, a Honda Fit — cementing his talent behind the wheel of any machine and best encapsulating the run-what-you-brung ethos of the dexterity philosophy.

Darren Givans continued his success in the genre, heading home the fastest front-wheel drive car. His sister and rival class, front-wheel drive with LSD, was won by Kai Chuck-Dion.

A noticeable absence was that of 2025 winner Rajendra Jadusingh. Not in attendance, he left perennial rival Joel Jackson to handle the onslaught of Montegonian machines on home turf.

“It’s a shame that he’s not here, but currently the fastest guy is Chris-Jon. Even if he was here, I don’t think I’d have a chance either way,” Jackson said.

For Christopher James, managing director, Team Streetz, the initial event for 2026 could not have been better.

“We had over 20-plus entries and a strong spectator turnout; so nice,” he said.

This year will see no rule changes, but several additions have been made to enhance the series that was tipped at the annual general meeting of the Jamaica Millennium Motoring Club to eventually return to being part of the National Driver’s Championship.

“What we’re doing this year is partnerships. We’re partnering with the Montego Bay Racing Association’s organisers to have an islandwide series,” James explained.

Team Streetz will hold four events on the eastern side of the island, while Montego Bay Racing Association will hold another four. The requirement for the championship is that two events from either organiser must be entered. The points from the best three of those four events will count towards the combined championship.

“We haven’t heard anything from the ASN [Autorite Sportive Nationale] in regards to a national championship, and being just one side of that we can’t do it by ourselves,” he added.

Another addition was the participation of students from Calabar High School Auto Club.

“They’re interested in motorsports. They’re motivated. They’re doing marshalling today to learn the event and learn about road safety through car control and what we do here,” said James.

He believes the initiative will inspire the next generation of grass roots competitors and help train better drivers for our roads.

Asphalt Assault: Dirt Splurt returns on May 17.

Karrell Bennett ends the day topping the female entrants. (Photo: Rory Daley)

Christopher James of Team Streetz (Photo: Rory Daley)

Showing the breath of his talent, Brandon King wins the four-wheel drive class in a Honda Fit. (Photo: Rory Daley)

Kai Chuck-Dion takes the front-wheel drive with limited-slip differential class.(Photo: Rory Daley)

Darren Givens — the top driver in the front-wheel drive class.(Photo: Rory Daley)

Chris-John Addison on his way to posting the fastest time of the day.(Photo: Rory Daley)