What’s Happening This Year!
October 8, 2011 by SCampbell · Comments Off
The organisers are working assiduously to make Rally Jamaica 2011 extraordinary, as the Jamaica Millennium Motoring Club (JMMC), celebrates 20 years of hosting this event. Rally Jamaica has a reputation of having the longest and most exciting dirt stages in the Caribbean region and its one that the organisers take great pride in. This year, they have created longer stages, which are more closely positioned to reduce the transit times between stages. They are also working to have the rally broadcasted live across the Caribbean region and to increase the number of press houses represented at the rally, as well as producing a commemorative magazine looking at Rally Jamaica over the years.
Another surprise is the increased number of overseas competitors to this year’s event and so far they have 9 expected overseas competitors. They are arriving from: Ireland, Scotland, Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago and St. Vincent. With the increased number of foreign entrants, four of which are coming with WRC cars, will increase the possibility of the Rally Jamaica crown finally leaving the shores of Jamaica, as they rival Jamaica’s 2010 defending champion Gary Gregg/Hugh Hutchinson.
Day 1
The official opening ceremony and parc expose will take place on Friday, December 2, 2011 along the hip strip of Knutsford Boulevard, New Kingston.
Day 2
The biggest changes to the rally will be seen on Saturday, December 3, 2011, when the organisers in a quest to provide a more fluid and spectator friendly event, are taking to Bog Walk, St. Catherine on the outskirts of the Corporate Area. We will see longer, new and renewed stages coming on to fill the day’s activities in the picturesque and scenic orange grove and cane field.
Day 3
Sunday, December 4, 2011, we will see a return to the Bernard Lodge stages off the Spanish Town bypass in St. Catherine, which were last run in the 1990’s, in addition to running stages in Bog Walk, St. Catherine. The grand finale will again be at last year’s highly successful Down Town Kingston water front location.
Title Sponsor – Petcom
Petcom, Rally Jamaica’s title sponsor for 11 consecutive years, is once again on board as such. Mr. Alfonso Chambers, Marketing Manager, has congratulated the organisers for once again hosting the event and re-emphasised Petcom’s commitment to Rally Jamaica. He has indicated that this year they will be branding the event under the product Pace Lubricants and reported that the product has seen great success in another discipline of the motor sport.
Other Sponsors:
Tru Juice
Trade Winds Citrus Ltd, Marketing Manager, Kim Lee, wants to ensure that spectators will once again have an exhilarating experience with their Rum Bar VIP stand. This year they will be looking to find a new location that can bring as much entertainment and value for money to the Rum Bar patrons. They will also continue their online streaming from their Facebook page so that persons are not left out of what is happening.
Knutsford Court Hotel
Mr. Maurice Bryan, Knutsford Court Hotel’s Sales & Reservation Manager, has expressed that Knutsford Court is happy to continue their partnership with Rally Jamaica as the rally headquarters for a second year. He pointed out that there will be special rates offered to overseas competitors and that Knutsford Court Hotel is willing to extend special rates to locals staying over for the event.
Media Coverage
Race 1, out of Barbados, is looking to come over this year to record the rally and in association with Sports Max, we are looking to get the rally broadcasted live in Jamaica and across the Caribbean.
Magazine
This year the magazine will be produced by the Jamaican Tuner Magazine for the first time and the organisers look forward to a new and improved publication.
