NEWLY-APPOINTED MINISTER OF SPORTS Anthony Wood will meet drivers and declare the Barbados Auto Racing League's (BARL) season officially open at Bushy Park today at 11 a.m.

The tour party is expected to include BARL officials and the minister's personal assistant Roger Bushelle. It would be the minister's first meeting with any sports group since taking the oath and instruments of office last week.

A total of 52 drivers are entered for the opening day.

Former Barbados Rally Club (BRC) champion driver Roger "The Sheriff" Skeete - reunited with the Peugeot 306 S16, after buying it back from Doug Maloney - is expected to carry the fight to reigning champion driver, Mark Maloney, in the Guinness Mazda RX3 in Group 3C.

Record

Maloney is aiming to lower the record 43.49 seconds set during the BARL's fourth race meet of the 2005 season.

"The car is working well, and I am in good personal condition and looking forward to today's action. Thanks to my sponsors Guinness and my technical team," he said.

Group C also includes former BARL champion driver Stuart Williams, who will be at the wheel of the Peter Hinkson-prepared Williams Industries/Hilti Toyota Starlet, Steve King in the Percy King's Auto Nissan Skyline, and Sean Maloney in a Citgo Racing Oils Starlet.

Attention will also be centered on Group 3A where Ralph White (Island Safari/Drive-A-Matic Toyota Starlet) will no doubt be looking to stamp his authority.

White will have to pay close attention to the intentions of Dudley "Ben" Forde (the Williams Industries Toyota Corolla), the returning Neil Thompson (Lucozade Toyota Corolla), and Mohammed Bhana (Bhana's Everything Store Mazda RX 7).

In Group 3B Dave Hinds (Roxy Supermarket Toyota Starlet), and former group champion Trevor Whitehall (Mazda RX 7), are set to resume their rivalry.

Returning

They will have to pay some attention to drivers such as Kurt Thompson (NKM Clothing/JCB/

Glassesco Honda), Wayne "Mort" Clarke (Mazda RX 7), Dirk Gray (Toyota Starlet), and Kirk Worrell who will be returning to action after a long lay-off.

Group 2A champion driver Shawn Boxill will be sitting out the day's action, but some attention is expected to be given to Nigel Browne (West N' Motors/Motoring News Nissan) and Robert Gill (Toyota Starlet), as well as to the young Alex Whitehead, in a Don Hunte-prepared Mini.

Tested

Newcomer Philip Moe, son of top mechanic Leeson Moe, will be at the wheel of the NP Oils/Hilti Toyota Starlet. He can expect to be severely tested by the likes of former champion driver Kenrick "Snapper" Husbands (Toyota Starlet), Jerry Leach (Origo Graphics Peugeot 205 GTI), Roger Jordan (Jubilee Supplies Toyota Starlet), and Wendell "Soldier Man" Batson (Toyota Starlet).

William Jones could find things to his liking in Group1B where drivers such as Rudi Clarke (DreamScapes/Turf Solutions Nissan) and Charles Lynch, in a Nissan, are entered.