Roger Mayers & Mark Maloney holds joint record holders

[Plex]

Roger Mayers and Mark Maloney are Joint record holders of lap record

MARK MALONEY went into the Williams Industries International race meet hosted by the Barbados Auto Racing League (BARL) as the holder of the lap record for the fastest lap in a saloon car around the Bushy Park racing circuit. When the two days of heated action were over he still held the fastest time, however he shared the record with newcomer to the track circuit, Roger Mayers.

At the helm of his Guinness Mazda RX3, Maloney looked as though he would be a cut above the rest at the end of qualifying of 43.258 secs. Thousands had flocked to the St. Philip circuit to see if Maloney in his rotary powered car would be able to hold off the challenge from the four-wheel drive cars powered by piston engines. The rotary engine has dominated the Caribbean arena for some time and there has not been a piston powered car that has been able to match it.

However Mayers in his well prepared Trivial Pursuit/McEnearney Quality Ford Focus seems to be heading the charge. Mayers got quicker and quicker during the race meet and at the end in an outstanding drive he had match Maloney�s record time of 43.101 seconds. Which leaves the question of not if but when will we see these two go under 43 seconds. The two four-wheel drive entrants (Group 4), Mayers and Stuart Maloney were made to start from the back of the grid as they were merged with Group 3C.

Mayers in his Trivial Pursuit/McEnearney Quality Ford Focus is now heaing the charge to stop the dominance of Mark Maloney on the circuit. Mayers was able to emerge at the top of his group after showing he had the faster f the two cars and relegated brother of Mark Maloney, Stuart Maloney in the Simpson Motors/Shell Helix Mitsubishi Evolution to second place. As expected Mark Maloney was the winner of Group 3C on the day, however it was not all easy going for the joint record holder.

On pole for the first race he led from start to finish and it looked as though he would once again crush the field in the group.
Sean Maloney another one of his brothers this one was at the helm of the Citgo Toyota Starlet was second and former champion driver Stuart Williams who had quickly take out the 2000cc engine after a mechanical problem at qualifying was third with the 1600cc engine the power plant of his Hilti/Williams Equipment Toyota Starlet. Stuart Maloney had the honour of becoming the first winner of the newly formed Group 4 on its debut day. But in the second race the order would change at the top.

Mark Maloney had a poor start which saw him quickly move from pole position to fourth place before the first corner.
With him behind the battle for the lead was between the two starlets of Sean Maloney and Williams. With a battle taking place up front for first place another battle was taking place for third place between Mark Maloney and Sammy Cumberbatch in the Digicel/F Taylor Associates BMW E30 with Roger Mayers in hot pursuit but not close enough to challenge. Cumberbatch in his first circuit race with the BMW tried keep them at bay but lost his line going into the goose neck and while he was trying to regain control of his car Mark Maloney who was forced to take evasive action made his way by.

Just as the battle at the front was heating up it came to a premature end when Williams was forced to retire allowing Sean to go on to a much deserved victory. Mark Maloney drove well to finish second in the group. In the final group race Mark had things his own way at the front, after he shot off the start grid and made his way between Sean and Stuart Williams to grab the lead.

But all eyes were on the battle between Stuart Maloney, Sean Maloney and Roger Mayers. With the faster four-wheel drives behind Sean, he did his best to hold them off for the best part of two laps. However Stuart and Roger Mayers made their way past him and were locked in a battle with each other. But it was evident who had the faster of the two cars as Mayers was able to close the gap rapidly on the front stretch.

More than one occasion he tried to get by Stuart on the front stretch but ran out of room and had to pull in behind.
However on the fifth lap he was able to get door to door with Stuart Maloney and the two drove around the hammer bend side by side but Mayers with the faster car was able to complete the pass in the short stretch before the second corner much to the crowds� amazement and joy.

He finished second in the race and first in his group, while Stuart Maloney was second in his group and third in the race.
Second in Group 3C was Sean Maloney, while Barry Mayers in his Trivial Pursuit/Nassco Toyota Starlet was third in the Group.

Source: http://www.barl.com.bb/news/article.php