Shell V-Power King of the Hill 2011

Eleven-time winner of the island's premier event, Roger Skeete, continued his preparations for next weekend's Sol Rally Barbados with victory in Shell V-Power King of the Hill, yesterday's (May 29) 'shakedown' event, watched by thousands of spectators.

Driving the One World Group/Michelin/Simpson Motors/Da Costa Mannings Auto Centre/Virgin Atlantic Subaru Impreza WRC S12, Skeete was nearly three seconds clear of the field on the practice run, clocking 2mins 00.53secs. England's Paul Bird (Frank Bird Poultry Ford Focus WRC07) was second on 2:03.41s, Paul Bourne third on 2:03.55s in the Banks/Chefette/MQI/Castrol Focus WRC07 and Roger Hill (Esso/Nassco/MotorMac Toyota Corolla WRC) fourth on 2:03.94s.

On the first official run, a combination of factors shook everything up: minutes after 'Birdy' and Bourne had been slowed by a thick cloud left by Graeme Finlayson's blown turbo, rain fell, affecting nearly all the remaining Modified 8-WRC crews. Sean Gill clocked 2:05.30 in the Simpson Motors/Shell V-Power/Automotive Art/Chefette Suzuki SX4 WRC) to lead after the first run, just over 2secs ahead of team-mate Ian Warren, who topped two-wheel-drive in the Suzuki Swift.

Although the rain clouds never dispersed, it stayed dry for the remaining two runs. Skeete reasserted himself on the second run (1:57.65), but Bird was just seven-tenths adrift (1:58.36) and a full second clear of Bourne (1:59.92); while Bird bettered Skeete's second-run time on the final climb of the 3.4-km course, and Bourne came within four-hundredths, Skeete had one final answer for them both, clocking 1:56.44, to win by nearly one second.

Afterwards, Skeete commented: "The dry runs were perfect, even though we could have been tidier in some places. There is definitely more time in the car but the aim is to be good for the rally." While Bird referred to it as "a good day", Bourne said: "I had that rusty feeling again at the start, but eventually worked into a groove. The car is definitely good, I just need to keep pushing myself."

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• zhaust
• rally
• barbados
• 2011
• king
• of
• the
• hill

[DZoneTV]

0:21 - I like :D

[meerakpro]

@jo34j  lol

[jo34j]

@meerakpro you may be first but i am second

[meerakpro]

1st

:)