RALLY BARBADOS - 30 May-1 Jun 14

SKEETE AND VENEZIA WIN SOL RALLY BARBADOS

Posted: June 27, 2017 8:25 AM

Roger Skeete returned to the top step of the Sol Rally Barbados podium at the weekend (May 30-June 1) for the first time since 2011, claiming his 13th victory in the 25-year history of the island’s premier event and extending his remarkable record. As he drove his Subaru Impreza WRC S12 into Parc Ferme at the finish, he said: “Fantastic. After the last two years, I am very happy with the result.”

After the results were made final yesterday (Monday), ‘The Sheriff’ and co-driver Louis Venezia received their trophies from Ezra Prescod, general manager of Sol Barbados, at a packed Prize-giving at The Boatyard beach bar in the island’s capital, Bridgetown. In second place, England’s Rob Swann and Welsh co-driver Darren Garrod (Impreza S11) earned their first Barbados podium, also collecting trophies for highest-placed overseas 4wd, while Trinidad’s John Powell (Ford Focus WRC08) claimed his third, the first with Jamaica’s Hugh Hutchinson.

After months of planning, the Barbados Rally Club (BRC) had more than one reason to celebrate as it marked the 25th running of its premier event: a record-equalling 13 cars were entered in the World Rally Car classes, while the 33 overseas crews included 23 drivers or co-drivers competing in the island for the first time, testament to the event’s solid reputation in the wider Caribbean and further afield.

Winner for the past two years, Britain’s Paul Bird (Focus WRC08) returned determined to become the only driver other than Skeete to claim a hat-trick of wins; he set his stall out early with victory in the Scotiabank King of the Hill ‘shakedown’, then a dominant performance in Friday evening’s opening stage at the redeveloped Bushy Park Circuit. With his winning co-driver of last year, Welshman Aled Davies, Bird won all nine stages in the first three loops of Karcher Sailor Gully, Automotive Art Canefield and Spring Vale, extending his overnight lead from 1.65 to 25.66secs, as crews fitted their lamp pods ready for the final three stages after nightfall. The former UK Champion’s challenge ended in Sailor Gully, however, as he explained: "I was carrying a little more speed through a corner when I drifted the slightest bit wide. I was hardly off line at all, but there was some cut rock on the exit, which I hit and it broke two wheels and the suspension. This rally is the highlight of my year so I'm naturally gutted, but we'll be back to fight again next year."

Bird’s demise promoted Skeete to the lead, where he would stay until Sunday’s climax at Bushy Park Circuit; despite a rather slow start, Swann was in third place after the first loop, particularly impressive on the downhill Canefield stage, second to Bird on the first three runs. So Swann was second overnight, 18.82secs behind, with Powell third, winning the day’s final Canefield, and Paul Bourne/Stuart Loudon (Focus WRC07) fourth.

Jamaica’s Jeff Panton and Mike Fennell Jnr (Focus WRC06) were fastest on the other two stages, climbing up the order after a first-corner spin on Friday night had cost them more than 2mins; by close of play, they were eighth, having lost only a few more seconds on an event where Panton admits it takes him a while to get into the groove. By mid-morning Sunday, it looked as though Skeete might be on his way to setting a new kind of record, by becoming the first driver to win the island’s premier event without setting a fastest stage time. Panton had increased his score to five stage wins on the first loop of Bushy Park, Kendal and Malvern, moving up to seventh and creating another off-the-wall record - all 16 stage wins so far claimed by drivers of a Focus WRC! But Skeete finally clocked his first win of the weekend on the second Bushy Park, adding a second on the day’s final stage, which included the Rallycross Jump, christened by the stars of Global Rallycross at Top Gear Festival Barbados two weeks before. Panton won the rest for a total of 10 and a sixth-place finish, 2mins 12secs behind Skeete, 8secs less than the time he had lost Friday night . . . a typically gritty performance.

Behind the overall battle, there was more intrigue in WRC-2, for cars built before the end of 2003, where UK drivers Roger Duckworth and Kevin Procter, in Impreza S6 and S7 respectively, swapped stage wins and the class lead throughout Saturday; Duckworth led by 1.84secs overnight, then won all Sunday’s stages, Procter also losing 15secs to a start-line stall on the second Bushy Park. They finished fifth and seventh overall, while local Toyota dealer Roger Hill (Corolla WRC) lost third in WRC-2 and what would have been his 17th top 10 finish in 25 years to a fuel pump failure.

The promised battle for two-wheel-drive supremacy between Josh Read (Toyota Starlet), Roger Mayers (WR Starlet) and Dane Skeete (Peugeot 306 Maxi) hardly materialised. Read missed Saturday’s fourth stage to resolve a brake problem, dropping out of the running for overall position, while Skeete (suspension) and Mayers (gearbox) also went missing, leaving Rhett Watson (BMW M3) in charge . . . and he remained so to the end, eighth overall his best Sol RB result as a driver, top 2wd, with a family hat-trick of class wins to boot. Watson said: “It means a lot to have my name in the history books next to drivers like Sean Gill, Neil Armstrong and Ian Warren.”

After an impressive drive, Andrew Jones (Ford Escort MkII) finished ninth, second 2wd and class winner for the second year in a row - 21 places further up the overall order than last year - while England’s Lindsey Pilkington collected the trophy as highest-placed female co-driver. Group N winner Andrew Mallalieu (Impreza N10) claimed the final slot in the top 10, his principal opponents, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IXs of Geoff Noel (suspension) and Mark Thompson (accident), out on Saturday.

Overseas visitors also claimed six class wins and 10 further podium finishes: winners were English newcomers Dick Mauger (M6 Nissan Micra) and Chris Shooter (Int Hist Escort MkII) while, among the returnees, Andrew Costin-Hurley (GpB2 Ford Puma) and Northern Ireland’s John Hardman (Clubman Micra) each claimed a third class win - Hardman also highest-placed overseas fwd - with Rupert Lomax (GpA Evo VI) from Wales and Scotland’s Allan Mackay (SM10 Ford Anglia WRC) winning for the first time.

Podium finishers included three newcomers - second were Ireland’s Brendan Brosnan (GpB1 Peugeot 205) and Frank Kelly (SM11 Escort MkII), the latter also highest-placed overseas rwd, and England’s Tim Green (GpN Impreza). Returnees finishing second were Ireland’s Peter Gallagher (Clubman Peugeot 306), English drivers Ding Boston (Int-Hist Alfa Romeo GTV), Stuart Deeley (GpB2 Toyota Celica GT4) and Cheryl Spencer (M6 Ford Fiesta), plus Paul Horton (M7 Escort MkI) of the Turks & Caicos Islands. England’s Simon Wallis (GpN Impreza) and Nigel Worswick (SM11 Escort MkII) each finished third.

Sol Rally Barbados (May 30-June 1) and Scotiabank King of the Hill (May 25) were organised and promoted by the Barbados Rally Club, which celebrated its 55th Anniversary in 2012; title sponsors are the Sol Group and Scotiabank. Marketing partners are Simpson Motors, LIME, Automotive Art, Banks and Karcher; official partners are Accra Beach Hotel & Spa, the Barbados Hotel & Tourism Association, the Barbados Tourism Authority, Geest Line, the Tourism Development Corporation and Virgin Atlantic Airways; associate sponsors are Chefette, Field Insurance, Glacial Pure, HOTT 95.3FM, Little Switzerland, Redline Fuels, Stoute’s Car Rental and West Indies Rum Distillery.

Results

Posted: June 27, 2017 8:23 AM

RALLY BARBADOS - 30 May-1 Jun 14 - RESULTS

FIRST-CLASS ENTRY FOR SOL RALLY BARBADOS

Posted: May 30, 2014 10:00 AM

The final running order for Sol Rally Barbados (May 30-June 1), published in advance of this evening’s Briefing Meeting and Welcome Party by the Barbados Rally Club, lists competitors from 14 nations among the 84 crews for the Caribbean’s biggest annual motor sport International, headed by a record-equalling entry in the WRC classes.

For the first time in its 25-year history, the island’s premier event will kick off with a Friday night special stage, using the redeveloped Bushy Park Circuit. When the venue was confirmed last month, Rally Director Neil Barnard said:
“Since the Ceremonial Start at Simpson Motors in 2009, we have been looking for a way of starting the event on Friday evening. That experiment was met with mixed reactions, but one message came over loud and clear, from competitors and spectators alike – the one thing that was missing was action! Well, we can guarantee action this year.”

Three venues in the north of the island will each be used four times on Saturday, with the final loop of three run after nightfall, another change to the format encouraged by competitors. Sunday is a much shorter day, with 10 stages at three venues in the island’s south-east corner, four of them ending inside Bushy Park Circuit, including the weekend’s final stage, which will include the Rallycross jump. The total stage distance is 128 kilometres, an increase of more than 10 per cent over Sol RB13.

With seeding based on the results of last Sunday’s Scotiabank King of the Hill, Paul Bird and Aled Davies will start at number one in the Rubis/Cockspur Rum Ford Focus WRC08, the former UK National Rally Champion chasing a hat-trick of wins. At two is 12-time winner Roger Skeete, co-driven in the Sol/LIME/Simpson Motors/Michelin/Williams Trading Inc Subaru Impreza WRC S12 by Louis Venezia, with number three carried by Jeffrey Panton and Michael Fennell Jnr (KIG/Rubis/Blue Orchids Hotel Focus WRC06); third in Sol RB12 and second last year, the Jamaican crew are hoping the climb up the podium continues.

For the second year running, Roger and Barry Mayers are the top 2wd seeds, starting at 10 in the Chefette/Digicel/Pennzoil/Illusion Graphics/Hankook WR Starlet, with Dane Skeete/Tyler Mayhew (Rubis/Williams Trading Inc/LIME/Michelin Peugeot 306 Maxi) at 11 and Josh Read/Mark Jordan in the Stihl/Gliptone/Hankook/Cell Hut/Royal Purple/Weetabix/Chutney's/Ezone Toyota Starlet at 12.

In addition to the battle for overall and 2wd supremacy, there will be 15 separate classes contested, in most of which island competitors will enjoy the challenge of pitting their skills against regional or international entries. Sol Rally Barbados 2014 statistics:

• 84 crews on the final running order
• 28 International, five Regional entries
• a record-equalling 13 entries in the World Rally Car classes
• competitors from 14 nations (including Barbados)
• 59 International drivers or co-drivers, 22 new to the event
• 12 drivers or co-drivers from the wider Caribbean, one new to the event

Running Order / Entry List

Posted: May 30, 2014 9:59 AM

1 Paul Bird - ENG/Aled Davies - WAL (WRC-1 Rubis/Cockspur Rum Ford Focus WRC08)
2 Roger Skeete/Louis Venezia (WRC-1 Sol/LIME/Simpson Motors/Michelin/Williams Trading Inc Subaru Impreza WRC S12)
3 Jeffrey Panton – JAM/Michael Fennell Jnr – JAM (WRC-1 KIG/Rubis/Blue Orchids Hotel Ford Focus WRC06)
4 Rob Swann – ENG/Darren Garrod - WAL (WRC-1 Waves Hotel and Spa Barbados/Terra Caribbean/Cygnet Plant Ltd Subaru Impreza WRC S11)
5 Paul Bourne/Stuart Loudon - SCO (WRC-1 Chefette/Banks/MQI/Flow Ford Focus WRC07)
6 John Powell – TRI/Hugh Hutchinson - JAM (WRC-1 Intercontinental Shipping/Trinidad Mooring & Launch Services Ford Focus WRC08)
7 Neil Armstrong/Barry Ward (WRC-1 Monster/Sol/Chefette/Digicel/Virgin Atlantic/Gunk/Hankook Tyres/Redline Fuels/Simpson Finance/Simpson Motors Suzuki SX4 WRC)
8 Roger Duckworth - ENG/Mark Broomfield - ENG (WRC-2 Intrinsys Subaru Impreza WRC S6)
9 Kevin Procter – ENG/Philip Hopkins - ENG (WRC-2 Procters Coaches/Coaches2.com Subaru Impreza WRC S7)
10 Roger Mayers/Barry Mayers (SM10 Chefette/Digicel/Pennzoil/Illusion Graphics/Hankook WR Starlet)
11 Dane Skeete/Tyler Mayhew (SM11 Rubis/Williams Trading Inc/LIME/Michelin Peugeot 306 Maxi)
12 Josh Read/Mark Jordan (SM10 Stihl/Gliptone/Hankook/Cell Hut/Royal Purple/Weetabix/Chutney's/Ezone Toyota Starlet)
14 Roger Hill/Graham Gittens (WRC-2 Nassco/Esso/Pennzoil/MotorMac Toyota Corolla WRC)
15 Rhett Watson/James Hutchinson (SM12 Power King Batteries/Carter's Pitstop/Gliptone/Stihl/Packaging Centre/The Unknown Entity/In support of Little Pink Gift BMW M3)
16 Geoff Noel/Robert Simmons (GpN Kola Kick/Sentry Insurance Brokers/Automotive Art/CIAC Air Conditioners/Dewalt Tools Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX)
17 Andrew Jones/Lindsey Pilkington – ENG (SM11 AP Jones Pharmacy/Southern Surf Beach Apartments/Lucozade/Panadol/Precision Racing Ford Escort MkII)
18 Rob Smith - ENG/Ross Weir - ENG (WRC-2 Weir Laundry Equipment/H J Weir Engineering/Rob Smith Rallying/Ocean2 Hotel Barbados Subaru Impreza)
19 Frank Kelly – NIR/Robert Cadiz - TRI (SM11 Bathshack.com/Kumho Tyres/Campbell Contract/DMS Ireland/Charlie McEnery Motors/Panta Fuel Ford Escort MkII)
20 Ray Brammer - ENG/Gary McElhinney – IRL (WRC-2 RB Trucks/Top Trucks Subaru Impreza WRC S8)
21 Brian Gill/Ryan Wood (SM12 Coca Cola BMW M3)
22 Martin Atwell/Chris King (SM12 Alleyne Real Estate/Ullyett's Machine Shop BMW M3)
23 David Coelho – TRI/James Harris – ENG (WRC-1 Total/VP Racing Fuels/Zanzibar/Kaizan Sushi Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX)
24 Mark Thompson/Kurt Seabra - GUY (GpN Glassesco Hardware/Stag Beer/NKM Clothing/Bio Beauty Day Spa/Valvoline Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX)
25 Daryl Clarke/Russell Brancker (M7 Roberts Manufacturing/P & N Hardware/Valvoline/Amir’s Chicken/MQI Quality/Mum’s Pasta Honda Civic)
26 Andrew Mallalieu/Geoff Goddard (GpN Terra Caribbean Subaru Impreza N10)
27 Ralph White/Joe Troulan (SM10 Easy Eats & Catering Services/Barbados Villa Services/Billfisher Fishing Charters/Amsoil Toyota Starlet WTR)
28 Stuart Maloney/Orry Hunte (SM10 Peugeot 306 Maxi)
29 Cliff Roett/Joshua Plaza - TRI (SM10 Nassco/Roett's Garage/Mark's Auto Spares/Flock it Electrostatic Coatings Toyota Starlet)
30 Owen Cumberbatch/Jan-Yves Hinds (SM12 SY Distribution BMW M3)
31 Rupert Lomax – WAL/David Alcock - WAL (GpA DigIt Plant Hire/SMS Motorsport Engineering/GMC Concrete/Ash Engineering/Blakoe Recovery Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI)
32 Joe McQuillan – NIR/Annette Daly - IRL (GpA McQuillan Masstock/Masserene Park Farms/Barron Transport Services Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII)
33 Justin Campbell/Juan Watts (SM12 Hilton Barbados/Dream Solutions/Castrol Edge/C & C Auto Services/Acton Corporate Services/Transtech BMW M3)
34 Nigel Worswick – ENG/Rebecca Kirsch - ENG (SM11 Worswick Engineering/Rallytech Composites/Motordrive Seats Ford Escort MkII)
35 Samuel Cumberbatch/Nicholas Yarde (SM12 F Taylor Insurance/Williams Industries Inc/Auto Link BMW M3)
36 James Betts/Allan Maynard (GpB2 Sign Depot/QuikStart Auto/Makita/Valvoline Renault Clio)
37 Martin Stockdale - ENG/Mark Swallow - ENG (SM12 Divi Southwinds/Drive-a-Matic/Quarry Motors BMW Spares BMW M3 Compact)
38 David St Hill/Ian Grimes (SM12 BMW M3)
39 Stan Hartling - TCI/Andy Proudfoot – CDN (SM12 Hartling Group of Resorts BMW M3)
40 Gary Thomas – WAL/Linda Thomas – WAL (SM11 Tsalta Motorsport Ford Escort MkII)
41 Chris Ullyett/Derek Ince (M7 Ullyett's Machine Shop/Proj-Rx/MG America/Food and Pharma Equipment Ford Escort RS2000)
42 Jamal Brathwaite/Dario Hoyte (M7 Valvoline/Automotive Art/Mackeson/Ellesmere/Chicken Pen Racing Honda Civic Type-R)
43 Paul Horton - TCI/Kristian Yearwood (M7 Sky Motorsports/Java Island/H Racing/Precision Racing Ford Escort MkI)
44 Jeremy Gonsalves/Chris Corbin (M6 Makita/SSP/Star Products/Yamaha Opel Corsa)
45 Andrew Costin-Hurley - ENG/Rob Brook - ENG (GpB2 Earl’s Performance Hoses/Zeta Engineering Ford Puma)
46 Allan Mackay – SCO/Mo Downey – NIR (SM11 Tunnocks/Avanti Environmental/Highland Waste Services/Mark Greer Motorsport/Mountune Ford Anglia WRC)
47 Kenny Hall - SCO/Fenny Wesselink – NED (Club Halltune Garage Opel Corsa)
48 Tim Green – ENG/Rob Smith – ENG (GpN Green & Co Subaru Impreza)
49 Harold Morley - ENG/Julia Caine (GpB2 The Booth Steamship Company/Crowley Shipping/Ontrac Telemetrics/Barrons Smokehouse Porsche GT3)
50 Simon Wallis – ENG/Peter Horsman – ENG (GpN Cambridge Compilers Ltd Subaru Impreza N10)
51 Stuart McChlery/Julian Goddard (SM11 Lubriguard/Gunk Ford Escort MkI)
52 Graham Manning/Mick Squires - ENG (SM11 Ford Escort MkII)
53 Sean Field/Shannon Kirton (M7 Field Insurance Brokers/Beacon Insurance Peugeot 306 GTi6)
54 Stuart White/John Boland (Hist 39 Steps Wine Bar/Hunikom Swim Wear/UpBeat Wholesale/Makita/Guava Tech BMW 325)
55 Brendon Mckenzie/Sean Collett (M6 Mck Motorsport/Turbo Plus Drink Mix/Do-It-Best Quality Paints/Colour XL/PromoTech Computers Toyota Corolla)
56 Edward Corbin/Rodney Clarke (M7 Valvoline/Automotive Art/Prosales Toyota Corolla RunX)
57 Norman Catwell/Kyle Catwell (M7 Ellesmere Quarries/John Hardman Engineering/Pec Tyres/Elite Transmissions Volkswagen Golf GTI)
58 Jeremy Sisnett/Justin Sisnett (M7 The Tiki Bar/Autolink/Indoor Plant Services Ford Fiesta ST)
59 Freddie Gale/Kyle Proverbs (M7 Gale’s Hatcheries/Redline Fuels/Nassco Toyota Corolla RunX)
60 John Hardman – NIR/Alistair Dodd - ENG (SM9 John Hardman Engineering/PEC Tyres/Ian Rodgers Body Shop/Chicken Pen Racing/Star Products/Elite Racing Transmissions Nissan Micra)
61 Wayne Archer/Lucas Nicolao - ARG (Hist Archers Hall Design Centre/Calvin Alkins Customs Services/Diamonds International BMW 325)
62 Geoffrey Ullyett/Jason King (GpB1 Ullyett's Machine Shop Service/Chesterton Hydraulic Seals & Gaskets/Valvoline Oil/Algae-X Nissan 200T)
63 Jeremy Croney/Andrew Croney (Club Warren’s Lubricants/Sign Station/SRG Engineering/Sweet Temptations Peugeot 206GTi)
64 Rhett D’Andrade/Tristan Gibbs (SM9 Daihatsu Charmant)
65 Brendan Brosnan – IRL/Sean Moriarty – IRL (SM11 Ardfert Quarry/KK Hydraulics/Diarmuid Tarrant Car Sales/Motoring World/Tralee Quick Fit/Time Out Hotel/Stoutes Car Rental/High Tide Watersports Peugeot 205)
66 Stuart Deeley – ENG/Vishal Dhanraj - TRI (GpB2 Sandstone Brewery Ltd/MouseMat Computer Services/PEC/John Hardman Engineering Toyota Celica GT4)
67 Phil Ralphs - WAL/Aled Lloyd Jones - WAL (Hist Tsalta Motorsport/Cambrian Land Rover/Alun Pryce Transport Ford Escort MkII)
68 Chris Shooter - ENG/Bev LeGood – ENG (Int-Hist Sparrow Hill Cars Ford Escort MkII)
69 Conor Roach/Dominic Straker (Club Williams Trading Inc Peugeot 106 Rallye)
70 Greg Cozier/Jamie Marsh (Hist Hyundai Lubricants/Sailun Tyres/Barbados Historic Rally Carnival Ford Escort RS2000)
71 Trevor Mapp/Talia Mapp (Club Ellesmere Quarries/AS Autostop/Codgi's Insurance Brokers/Chicken Pen Racing Mitsubishi Colt)
72 John Corbin/Owen Proverbs (Hist Valvoline/Automotive Art/Prosales/Corbins Garage Toyota Corolla)
73 Neil Corbin/Matthew Staffner (M6 Nassco/Jason Jones/Auto Solutions/Valvoline/BG Products & Services Toyota Starlet)
74 Winston Thompson/Fiona Austin McDonald - ANT (SM9 Chicken Pen Racing/Ellesmere Quarries/SDRR Industrial & Hydraulic Spares Toyota Starlet)
75 Brian Watson - SCO/Caroline Will - SCO (GpB2 Audi quattro S1)
76 Ken Mann - ENG/Stephen Bell (Hist Ford Escort MkII)
77 David Brewster/Alex Kirton (Hist Innovative Security Solutions/Castrol/SRG Engineering Peugeot 205GTi)
78 Peter Gallagher – IRL/Rene Forde (Club Dublin Crystal Peugeot 306)
79 Paul Inniss/Pierre Clarke (Club Caribbean Villa Chefs/HIV Aids Commission/Illusion Graphics/Tint It/Priva/Hulk Wrecker Services/Erie Tire Services/JJ Racing/Pickers Inc Honda Civic)
80 Fabien Clarke/Dwayne Forde (Club RCR Tours/Bovell Auto Repair/Barbados Business Listings Suzuki Ignis Sport)
81 Ding Boston - ENG/Andy Parsons - ENG (Hist Phillips Tyres of Oxford/Atwell Exports/Julielm House/JB Event Recruitment/Geest Line/Virgin Atlantic Airways/Ullyetts Machine Shop Service/Barbados Automobile Association Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTV)
82 Dick Mauger - ENG/Steve McNulty - ENG (M6 Major Farm Services Nissan Micra)
83 Eric Allamby/Andrew Skeete (Club Shelbury Construction/Scrap Man Recycling/MC Buccaneer Toyota Corolla)
84 Rommell R Martin/Rashid Phillips (Club VV & K Rentals/Fusionz Boutique/Hal's Car Park Bar/B3 Imagining/De Kitchen Caterers/JA Appeal/Hanson's Trading/Rallymaxx TV/Kevin Wood Photography Toyota Starlet)
85 Cheryl Spencer – ENG/Barry Spencer – ENG (M6 Cutters/10 Saints/Solo Discount Warehouse/Sparkle Pools/Tim Bingham Building Contractors/Waterfront Accident Repair/Motocolour Southampton/Car Call UK/Mission Bodyshop Ford Fiesta)

RallyFM.net expands reach of coverage

Posted: May 23, 2014 1:04 PM

RallyFM.net is once again stepping up the reach of its coverage of Sol Rally Barbados this year, with an additional output stream via Spreaker Radio internet radio. Listeners who follow @rallyfm on Twitter will be notified each time a live broadcast starts or a recorded segment is available at http://www.spreaker.com/show/the_rallyfm_net_show. All live broadcasts are automatically recorded and added to the RallyFM.net show, so that fans can listen at a time that suits them

RallyFM.net director Chris Morford, a familiar figure at Sol RB, has broadcast news, interviews, live commentary and interim times since 2008. RallyFM.net’s offering has steadily increased, with the following options now available to rally fans worldwide:

• on a PC or laptop, go to www.rallyfm.net and click on ‘listen live’
• smart phone users can download the ‘TUNEIN RADIO’ app and search for RallyFM; this app also offers access to a host of worldwide internet radio stations
• to receive notification of live broadcasts and recorded segments, follow @rallyfm on Twitter, which will also carry comprehensive news updates

FINAL COUNTDOWN FOR SOL RALLY BARBADOS 2014

Posted: May 23, 2014 1:03 PM

The final countdown is well under way for Sol Rally Barbados 2014.

Competitors, their families and supporters have been arriving at the island’s Grantley Adams International Airport daily since the weekend, with the cargo hold of two inbound Virgin Atlantic Airways flights also carrying a Ford Focus rally car, one each for Trinidad’s John Powell and Britain’s Paul Bird, who is aiming for a hat-trick of victories in this year’s event.

Early last Friday, the Geest Line freighter Agulhas Stream docked at the Bridgetown Port to off-load the bulk of the International entry, an operation which ran so smoothly that all 25 cars and three service barges were cleared from the Port by the end of the day and delivered to ‘Rally Central’, the secure workshop facility for overseas crews.

Sol RB14 Rally Office Manager Jeanne Crawford said:
“Last Friday’s operation in the Port was as good as it gets. I have to thank the officers of Barbados Port Inc, the Barbados Customs & Excise Department and Seafreight Agencies for assisting with the offloading, clearance and delivery of the cars in one day.

“Thanks also to Rally Club members Dave Crawford, Sean Field, Graham Gittens and Jeremy Gonsalves for helping to manoeuvre cars around the Port, and to our wrecker drivers for their timely trips back and forth to Rally Central. I should not forget those officials at the Grantley Adams International Airport, who have facilitated the rapid clearance of our two cars this week; it is good to know that so many people in the island understand the importance of Sol Rally Barbados in the whole sports-tourism mix.”

The BRC is this year celebrating the 25th running of its premier event, which has grown from small beginnings in 1990 into the Caribbean’s biggest annual motor sport International; it is scheduled for May 30-June 1, with Simpson Motors Scrutineering from 1.00pm this Saturday (May 24) offering fans their first chance to see some of the newcomers to the island before Scotiabank King of the Hill on Sunday.

BIRD STILL SET ON SOL RALLY BARBADOS HAT-TRICK

Posted: May 16, 2014 2:23 PM

Despite suffering what he describes as “the biggest crash I’ve ever had” in the Manx National Rally on Saturday (May 10), England’s Paul Bird remains set on a hat-trick of wins in Sol Rally Barbados. ‘Birdy’ was on course for a fourth victory on the Isle of Man but, with three stages to go, crashed out of the lead in spectacular fashion.

The Barbados Rally Club (BRC) is this year celebrating the 25th running of its premier event, which is scheduled for May 30-June 1, with Simpson Motors Scrutineering and Scotiabank King of the Hill the previous weekend (May 24/25). After Geest Line freighter Agulhas Stream docks this week, delivering the bulk of the 28-car International entry, Bird’s Mac Tools/Rapid Solicitors/Fuchs Titan/Hager/FBP/Amigos Ford Focus WRC08 is scheduled to land at the Grantley Adams International Airport next Thursday (May 22), a tight deadline to rebuild the car, which was being assessed at M-Sport today (Monday).

With Welsh co-driver Aled Davies, who sat with him for the second of his back-to-back Sol RB victories last year, Bird mastered the mixed conditions last Friday night, winning all six stages and claiming an overnight lead of 2 minutes 25 seconds. With eight further stages on Saturday, Bird made a relatively cautious start, dropping a handful of seconds on the first two, before reasserting his authority to lead by 2mins 30secs after SS10.

He lost 30secs on the next stage, however, so needed to push in the final three tests; the 2005 ANCRO National Champion lost control at high speed on the infamous Druidale stage, rolling a number of times before coming to a halt, luckily without serious injury.

He said: “That was the biggest crash I've ever had. I'm a bit sore and think I've broken some ribs, but Aled is fine. I'm bitterly disappointed for the team as it was my fault entirely - I knew if we had a go on that stage it would make the final two a lot easier, as we'd been having a few niggling problems with the car and I'd dropped a load of time with stalls and spins. I ran wide on a fast corner and we ended up paying a big price for a small mistake. The car is looking a bit sorry for itself, too, but the cage is OK, so the boys will get it sorted and I'm really looking forward to some better luck on Sol Rally Barbados later this month."

When he arrives in the Caribbean, Bird will face the strongest field yet assembled for the region’s biggest annual motor sport International - in WRC-1, Bird is joined in the Ford camp by Paul Bourne of Barbados (WRC07), Jamaica’s Jeff Panton (WRC06) and Trinidad’s John Powell (WRC08), facing the Subaru Impreza WRCs of local hero and 12-time winner Roger Skeete (S12) and Britain’s Rob Swann (S11), along with Rally Trinidad 2014 winner, Bajan rising star Neil Armstrong, in the Suzuki SX4 WRC.

QUALITY IN DEPTH FOR SOL RALLY BARBADOS 2014

Posted: May 16, 2014 2:20 PM

The Barbados Rally Club (BRC) will celebrate the 25th running of its premier event in fine style, with the largest field of World Rally Cars ever assembled in the Caribbean. The provisional entry list of 93 crews for Sol Rally Barbados 2014 (May 30-June 1) was confirmed today (Thursday) during a media briefing at the Accra Beach Hotel & Spa in Rockley, on the island’s south coast.

A record 14 cars are entered in the WRC classes, all but three of them former works entries, with multiple Trinidad Rally Champion John Powell’s entry confirmed today; he faces previous winners Roger Skeete and Paul Bourne of Barbados, Jamaica’s Jeff Panton and former UK National Rally Champion Paul Bird - he has won for the past two years - in the strongest field yet seen for the region’s biggest annual motor sport International.

Powell joins Bird, Bourne and Panton in the Ford camp, returning to action with a Focus WRC08, while Skeete campaigns his Subaru Impreza WRC S12; the WRC-1 class is completed by Britain’s Rob Swann, now armed with an Impreza S11, and Bajan rising star Neil Armstrong, who won Rally Trinidad in March in the Suzuki SX4 WRC.

The first chance for fans to mix with local, regional and international competitors will be at Simpson Motors Scrutineering on Saturday, May 24, with Scotiabank King of the Hill the following day allowing visiting crews, particularly newcomers to the event, an opportunity to experience local tarmac at competition speed. For the first time, Sol RB will start on Friday evening, with Special Stage 1 at the redeveloped Bushy Park Circuit in St Philip. Crews will have chance to recce the stage during the afternoon, with the Zero Car due to kick off the action at 6.30pm. Bushy Park Circuit will also be the venue for the Sunday finish, with a different configuration used to end the stage running through Padmore village four times during the day.

Of the 25th running of the BRC’s blue riband event, Rally Chairman Mark Hamilton said:
“I must thank all our sponsors, without whom the Barbados Rally Club would be seriously challenged to stage an event of this magnitude. We once again have a solid entry and are looking forward to a weekend of good, clean competition. Our aim year on year is to raise the bar and I am confident that we have achieved that again this year.”

Title sponsor since 2008, the region’s largest independent oil company, Sol was represented today by Barbados Country Manager, Ezra Prescod, who said: “Sol is passionate about motor sport, and we are proud to be title sponsor for the seventh year. Every year, we are more excited to be involved and, as we mark the 25th running of this event, we salute the Barbados Rally Club and its many volunteer marshals and officials for their outstanding service to motor sport in the island.” For King of the Hill sponsor Scotiabank, Victor Boyce, Director, Corporate and Commercial Business Unit, said:
“We are pleased to be back. Scotiabank has a very active sponsorship programme, in sports and culture, with criteria on which we base our involvement. Community is very important to us, and motor sport brings out Barbadians of all ages, classes and creeds to join together in a real community event.”

Sol RB14 will be contested over 23 special stages: after Friday’s spectacular opening, there will 12 on Saturday, the final loop of three run in darkness; a further 10 on Sunday bring the competitive mileage up to 128 kilometres, around 11 per cent longer than last year. While some venues are familiar, others are less so, as the BRC strives to create an ever more level playing field for local and overseas competitors.

During a lengthy and good-humoured Q & A session, which emphasised the close links between motor sport, the media and the wider community, Hamilton said:
“While I would never say we have it perfect, a real effort is made every year to make incremental changes, to not bite off more than we can chew, and to learn from our mistakes.

“One of the Rally Club’s biggest assets is that we are blessed, and have been for many years, with people that, when they take on a task, they don’t just touch it, they own it. That’s the way that things get done, and is a massive plus for the Club.” Rally Director Neil Barnard concluded: “We have invested a lot of time and money in our results system - for the first time, we have a complete manual back-up available, should anything fail - and in communications, an area so important for safety, which is crucial to us, and to our sponsors. Planning is all - the more ‘t’s are crossed, the more ‘i’s are dotted, the smoother things should be.”

Sol Rally Barbados (May 30 - June 1) and Scotiabank King of the Hill (May 25) are organised and promoted by the Barbados Rally Club, which celebrated its 55th Anniversary in 2012; title sponsors are the Sol Group and Scotiabank. Marketing partners are Simpson Motors, LIME, Automotive Art, Banks and Karcher; official partners are Accra Beach Hotel & Spa, the Barbados Hotel & Tourism Association, the Barbados Tourism Authority, Geest Line, the Tourism Development Corporation and Virgin Atlantic Airways; associate sponsors are Chefette, Field Insurance, Glacial Pure, HOTT 95.3FM, Little Switzerland, Redline Fuels, Stoute’s Car Rental and West Indies Rum Distillery.

Provisional entry list

Posted: May 16, 2014 2:18 PM

+ driver/co-driver (car) – listed alphabetically by class
+ some classifications subject to scrutineering

Key to nationalities (competitor from Barbados unless shown): ANT – Antigua & Barbuda; ARG – Argentina; CDN – Canada; ENG – England; GLP - Guadeloupe; GUY – Guyana; IRL – Republic of Ireland; JAM – Jamaica; NED – The Netherlands; NIR – Northern Ireland; SCO – Scotland; TCI – Turks & Caicos; TRI – Trinidad & Tobago; WAL – Wales

WRC-1
Neil Armstrong/Barry Ward (Suzuki SX4 WRC)
Paul Bird – ENG/Aled Davies – WAL (Ford Focus WRC08)
Paul Bourne/Stuart Loudon – SCO (Ford Focus WRC07)
Jeffrey Panton – JAM/Michael Fennell Jnr – JAM (Ford Focus WRC06)
John Powell – TRI/Nicholas Telfer Jnr – TRI (Ford Focus WRC08)
Roger Skeete/Louis Venezia (Subaru Impreza WRC S12)
Rob Swann – ENG/Darren Garrod – WAL (Subaru Impreza WRC S11)

WRC-2
Ray Brammer – ENG/Gary McElhinney – IRL (Subaru Impreza WRC S8)
David Coelho – TRI/James Harris – ENG (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX)
Roger Duckworth – ENG/Mark Broomfield – ENG (Subaru Impreza WRC S6)
Roger Hill/Graham Gittens (Toyota Corolla WRC)
Kevin Procter – ENG/Philip Hopkins – ENG (Subaru Impreza WRC S7)
Dean Serrao/Josh Delmas (Subaru Impreza WRC S9)
Rob Smith – ENG/Ross Weir – ENG (Subaru Impreza)

Group A
Stuart Deeley – ENG/Vishal Dhanraj – TRI (Toyota Celica GT4)
Rupert Lomax – WAL/David Alcock – WAL (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI)
Joe McQuillan – NIR/Annette Daly – IRL (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII)
Pierre Negre – GLP/tba (Ford Escort Cosworth)

Group N
Tim Green – ENG/Rob Smith – ENG (Subaru Impreza)
Andrew Mallalieu/Geoff Goddard (Subaru Impreza N10)
Geoff Noel/Robert Simmons (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX)
Mark Thompson/Kurt Seabra – GUY (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX)
Simon Wallis – ENG/Peter Horsman – ENG (Subaru Impreza N10)

SuperModified 12
Martin Atwell/Chris King (BMW M3)
Justin Campbell/Juan Watts (BMW M3)
Owen Cumberbatch/tba (BMW M3)
Samuel Cumberbatch/Nicholas Yarde (BMW M3)
Stan Hartling - TCI/Andy Proudfoot – CDN (BMW M3)
Brian Gill/Ryan Wood (BMW M3)
Frank Kelly – NIR/Liam Brennan – IRL (Ford Escort MkII)
David St Hill/Ian Grimes (BMW M3)
Martin Stockdale – ENG/Mark Swallow – ENG (BMW M3 Compact)
Rhett Watson/James Hutchinson (BMW M3)

SuperModified 11
Brendan Brosnan – IRL/Sean Moriarty – IRL (Peugeot 205)
Andrew Jones/Lindsey Pilkington – ENG (Ford Escort MkII)
Allan Mackay – SCO/Mo Downey – NIR (Ford Anglia WRC)
Graham Manning/Mick Squires – ENG (Ford Escort MkII)
Stuart McChlery/Julian Goddard (Ford Escort MkI)
Dane Skeete/Tyler Mayhew (Peugeot 306 Maxi)
Nigel Worswick – ENG/Rebecca Kirsch – ENG (Ford Escort MkII)

SuperModified 10
Stuart Maloney/Orry Hunte (Peugeot 306 Maxi)
Roger Mayers/Barry Mayers (WR Starlet)
Josh Read/Mark Jordan (Toyota Starlet)
Cliff Roett/Joshua Plaza – TRI (Toyota Starlet)
Ralph White/Joe Troulan (Toyota Starlet WTR)

SuperModified 9
Clifford Cox/Scott Bentham (Toyota Starlet)
Rhett D’Andrade/Tristan Gibbs (Daihatsu Charmant)
Carlos Edwards/Andre Waithe (Toyota Starlet)
Winston Thompson/Fiona Austin McDonald - ANT (Toyota Starlet)
Shareef Walcott/Jan-Yves Hinds (Toyota Corolla)

Modified 7
Jamal Brathwaite/Dario Hoyte (Honda Civic Type-R)
Norman Catwell/Kyle Catwell (Volkswagen Golf GTI)
Daryl Clarke/Russell Brancker (Honda Civic)
Edward Corbin/Rodney Clarke (Toyota Corolla RunX)
Sean Field/Shannon Kirton (Peugeot 306 GTi6)
Freddie Gale/Kyle Proverbs (Toyota Corolla RunX)
Paul Horton – TCI/Kristian Yearwood (Ford Escort MkI)
Jeremy Sisnett/Justin Sisnett (Ford Fiesta ST)
Chris Ullyett/Derek Ince (Ford Escort RS2000)

Modified 6
Neil Corbin/Matthew Staffner (Toyota Starlet)
Jason Cozier/Sean Corbin (Peugeot 205GTi)
Jeremy Gonsalves/Chris Corbin (Opel Corsa)
Brendon Mckenzie/Sean Collett (Toyota Corolla)

International Historic
Chris Shooter – ENG/Bev LeGood – ENG (Ford Escort MkII)

Historic
Wayne Archer/Lucas Nicolao – ARG (BMW 325)
Ding Boston – ENG/Andy Parsons – ENG (Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTV)
David Brewster/Alex Kirton (Peugeot 205GTi)
John Corbin/Owen Proverbs (Toyota Corolla)
Greg Cozier/Natasha Farnum (Ford Escort RS2000)
Ken Mann – ENG/Kenneth Mann – ENG (Ford Escort MkII)
Phil Ralphs – WAL/Aled Lloyd Jones – WAL (Ford Escort MkII)
Gary Thomas – WAL/tba – WAL (Ford Escort MkII)
Stuart White/John Boland (BMW 325)

Clubman
Eric Allamby/Andrew Skeete (Toyota Corolla)
Fabien Clarke/Arlington Hoyte (Suzuki Ignis Sport)
Jeremy Croney/Andrew Croney (Peugeot 206GTi)
Peter Gallagher – IRL/Rene Forde (Peugeot 306)
Kenny Hall – SCO/Fenny Wesselink – NED (Opel Corsa)
Paul Inniss/Pierre Clarke (Honda Civic)
Trevor Mapp/Talia Mapp (Mitsubishi Colt)
Rommell R Martin/Rashid Phillips (Toyota Starlet)
Dick Mauger – ENG/Steve McNulty – ENG (Nissan Micra)
Conor Roach/Dominic Straker (Peugeot 106 Rallye)
Cheryl Spencer – ENG/Barry Spencer – ENG (Ford Fiesta)
Miguel Toppin/Yakub Haveliwala (Peugeot 205)

* Group B
James Betts/Allan Maynard (Renault Clio)
Andrew Costin-Hurley – ENG/Rob Brook – ENG (Ford Puma)
John Hardman – NIR/Alistair Dodd – ENG (Nissan Micra)
Duane Johnson/tba (Mitsubishi Lancer)
Harold Morley – ENG/Julia Caine (Porsche GT3)
Randy Reid/tba (BMW E30)
Geoffrey Ullyett/Jason King (Nissan 200T)
Brian Watson – SCO/Caroline Will – SCO (Audi quattro S1)

* Group B will be split into GpB1 and GpB2 after scrutineering

CARS ON THE WATER FOR SOL RALLY BARBADOS

Posted: May 16, 2014 2:15 PM

The Geest Line freighter Agulhas Stream set sail from Portsmouth on the English south coast on Tuesday, May 6 after two nights in port exchanging fruit and other produce from around the Caribbean for a shipment of rally cars bound for the region’s biggest annual motor sport International, Sol Rally Barbados.

The ship will now spend 10 days on its trans-Atlantic voyage, via Le Havre in France and Martinique, before docking at the Bridgetown Port to off-load its precious cargo of competition vehicles. They will compete against more than 60 regional crews in the Barbados Rally Club’s (BRC) premier event over the weekend of May 30-June 1, after Scotiabank King of the Hill, the ‘shakedown’ on the previous Sunday.

The final International entries confirmed today include England’s Stuart Deeley, on his third trip in a third different car. After earlier outings in a Nissan Micra (class-winner in 2012) and Lotus Europa, he returns with a Group A Toyota Celica GT4 ST205, backed by Sandstone Brewery, MouseMat Computer Services, PEC and John Hardman Engineering.

Deeley drove the car, built specifically for Sol RB14, for the first time less than a week ago:
“I've only driven it round the block, so there's still a lot of learning to do - never driven 4wd or turbo in competition, nor had power steering, power brakes or power windows!” A Japanese import to the UK, the car is one of a limited number built to WRC spec, but for road use. His co-driver will be Trinidad’s Vishal Dhanraj.

Also shipped today is the Oxford Universities Motorsport Foundation Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTV, returning after a year’s absence; with backing from Phillips Tyres of Oxford, Atwell Exports, Julielm House, JB Event Recruitment, Geest Line, Virgin Atlantic Airways, Ullyetts Machine Shop Service and the Barbados Automobile Association, it will again be driven by OUMF Founder Ding Boston, with first-timer Andy Parsons as co-driver.

Finally, the freighter is carrying two cars headed for the island’s popular Clubman class, Ireland’s Peter Gallagher returning, this time with his Dublin Crystal Peugeot 306, with local co-driver Rene Forde again the co-driver. Back for his eighth visit, he and Forde finished third in Modified 6 last year in a 206, so face a different challenge this year.

Veteran English rally man Dick Mauger is usually seen in an historic-spec Ford Escort MkII or a Ford Focus WRC these days, but will compete in Barbados in a Nissan Micra, supported by Major Farm Services. Dick’s son Simon, who runs the family’s Major Motorsport business, was also entered but has had to postpone his Barbados debut through pressure of work. Dick will have the experienced Steve McNulty in the co-driver’s seat, his most regular partner over the past few years. As happens every year, a group of the most loyal supporters of Sol RB once again took time to travel to Portsmouth yesterday, a Bank Holiday in the UK, to assist in loading the cars on Monday. Led by Martin Stockdale, whose record of what will this year become 14 consecutive trips to compete in Barbados is unlikely ever to be broken. He was joined by friend and mechanic Julian Lockwood, plus Sol RB regulars Andrew and Melissa Costin-Hurley, Stuart Deeley, John Hardman, Rob and Marie Swann and Simon Wallis, while newcomers Tim Green and Shona Hale - delivering Brian Watson’s Audi quattro S1, a round trip of more than 1,100 miles and 18 hours from Scotland - joined in to help.

Sol RB Rally Office Manager Jeanne Crawford said:
“Every year, it makes such a different that these guys are willing to give up their time, and travel some serious miles, to help with loading. I am always being asked by new competitors about what happens to the cars, who looks after them, all that sort of thing. To know that Martin, Andrew and the crew are there is fantastic. They have got to know the guys who work on the dock, and that plays a big part in building confidence in our event. Thanks to all of them for what they do, on behalf of the Rally Club and all the competitors.”

Circuit of Ireland Marshals Win Trip to Barbados!

Posted: May 16, 2014 2:10 PM

Discover Northern Ireland Circuit of Ireland Rally marshals Jason Jackson and Steve Reeves will be jetting off to Sol Rally Barbados later this month after well-known competitor Frank Kelly and 'Circuit' Manpower Manager Raymond Linton pulled their names from the 'hat' outside Belfast's Titanic building on Thursday morning!

Everyone who gave up their spare time to marshal in Northern Ireland's round of the FIA European Rally Championship last month were automatically entered into a draw to win tickets to May's Sol Rally Barbados, courtesy of the Barbados Rally Club and the island's Tourism Development Corporation.

The prize includes return flights from London Gatwick on Virgin Atlantic Airways, accommodation and shared car hire for the two lucky winners, who are set to pack their bags for a two-week trip to the Caribbean in less than three weeks' time.

Prizewinner Jason Jackson, a 28-year-old mechanic from Newtownards, marshalled on the Loughries stage as well as the Ards Town Centre stage during the Easter event. As a first-time rally marshal, he was almost speechless when he discovered that he was one of the lucky winners...

"I thought it was a wind up!" Jackson laughed. "It was my first time marshalling and I only signed up at the last minute. I really wanted to do it because the stages were right on the doorstep of my work and home. I knew there was a prize to Barbados up for grabs but I never expected to win. I was in America when I was a kid but other than that, the furthest I've travelled is to Spain, Ibiza and Portugal!"

The second prizewinner, Steve Reeves, who marshalled on both runs of the Buck's Head stage, is retired and lives close to Ballynahinch. Understandably he was equally enthusiastic about the good news!

"I'm stunned!" Reeves said after discovering his good fortune. "It's going to take a while to sink in. The last time I marshalled was in the Mark II Escort days, back in the late '70s and early '80s. I still have a keen motorsport interest so when I found out that the event needed marshals through Volunteer Now, I was happy to sign up."

"Then I logged on to the Circuit website and saw the information about the Sol Rally Barbados prize so I registered on the website as well," he added. "I'm completely surprised. It's a dream."

Both prizewinners are set to jet off to Barbados in less than three week's time where they will experience the trip of a lifetime. Sun, sea, sand and motorsport combined with the infectious enthusiasm of the local Bajans will make for an unforgettable experience.

"It's an absolutely fantastic prize," said Circuit of Ireland Manpower Manager Raymond Linton. "Thanks must go to the Barbados Rally Club and the Tourism Development Corporation for making this possible."

Assistant Clerk of Course Des O'Loan added: "This superb prize really helped the Circuit of Ireland to recruit volunteers. It's great to see marshals being rewarded for giving up their spare time and I hope the relationship between the Circuit of Ireland and Sol Rally Barbados can continue to flourish for many years."

A number of British and Irish competitors are also set to contest the event, including Carnlough's Joe McQuillan, Scotland's Allan Mackay and Moy's Frank Kelly. Their rally cars will leave Portsmouth on the English south coast next Tuesday for the 10-day trip across the Atlantic Ocean aboard the Geest Line freighter Agulhas Steam, while Kelly's car has already arrived.

"It's an event that I've wanted to do for years," said Mark II Escort driver Frank Kelly. "I remember the original RPM footage when Kenny McKinstry first went over more than 20 years ago, and I've read a lot about it in Pacenotes magazine. So it's always been something that I've wanted to do. This year I accidentally ended up with two cars so it provided the perfect opportunity."

He added: "I'm expecting a lot of heat, very slippery tarmac with a real carnival atmosphere. I'm not going out to get a result - I just want to enjoy myself and have fun!"

The motorsport action in Barbados kicks off with Simpson Motors Scrutineering and the Scotiabank King of the Hill on 24/25 May, while Sol Rally Barbados runs from 30 May - 1 June.

IRISH MARSHALS HEAD FOR SOL RALLY BARBADOS

Posted: May 16, 2014 2:09 PM

Two volunteers who marshalled at last month’s Discover Northern Ireland Circuit of Ireland Rally will shortly be jetting off to Sol Rally Barbados 2014 for a once-in-a-lifetime two-week trip, courtesy of the Barbados Rally Club (BRC) and the island's private sector Tourism Development Corporation; the prize includes return flights from London Gatwick on Virgin Atlantic Airways, accommodation and shared rental car for the duration.

Popular Irish competitor Frank Kelly, who will compete in Sol RB14, and 'Circuit' Manpower Manager Raymond Linton met outside the Titanic building in Belfast yesterday morning (Thursday) to pull two names ‘out of the hat’ from the more than 600 marshals who volunteered over the Easter weekend for Northern Ireland's round of the FIA European Rally Championship.

The BRC is this year celebrating the 25th running of its premier event, which has grown from small beginnings in 1990 into the Caribbean’s biggest annual motor sport International; it is scheduled for May 30-June 1, with Simpson Motors Scrutineering and Scotiabank King of the Hill the previous weekend (May 24/25). Marshals Jason Jackson and Steve Reeves are the lucky winners, neither of whom quite believed it, when Linton called. Jackson, a 28-year-old mechanic from Newtownards, who marshalled on the Loughries and Ards Town Centre stages, was almost speechless:
"I thought it was a wind up! It was my first time marshalling and I only signed up at the last minute. I really wanted to do it, because the stages were right on the doorstep of my work and home. I knew there was a prize to Barbados up for grabs but I never expected to win."

Reeves, who marshalled on both runs of the Buck's Head stage, is retired and lives close to Ballynahinch. He was equally enthusiastic:
"It's going to take a while to sink in. The last time I marshalled was in the Mark II Escort days, back in the late 1970s and early '80s. I still have a keen interest, so when I found out that the event needed marshals through Volunteer Now, I was happy to sign up. Then I logged on to the Circuit web site and saw the information about the Sol Rally Barbados prize, so I registered on the web site as well. I'm completely surprised. It's a dream."

Linton said: "It's an absolutely fantastic prize, thanks must go to the Barbados Rally Club and the Tourism Development Corporation for making it possible." Assistant Clerk of the Course Des O'Loan added:
"This superb prize really helped the Circuit of Ireland to recruit volunteers. It's great to see marshals being rewarded for giving up their spare time and I hope the relationship between the Circuit of Ireland and Sol Rally Barbados can continue to flourish for many years." After making the draw, Kelly explained why he’s competing in Sol RB14: "I remember the original RPM television footage when Kenny McKinstry went over more than 20 years ago, and I've read a lot about it in Pacenotes Rally Magazine, so it's always been something that I've wanted to do. This year, I accidentally ended up with two cars so it provided the perfect opportunity. I'm expecting a lot of heat, very slippery tarmac and a real carnival atmosphere. I'm not going out to get a result - I just want to have fun!"

IRISH CREWS OLD AND NEW FOR SOL RALLY BARBADOS

Posted: May 16, 2014 2:07 PM

Support from Irish competitors for Sol Rally Barbados, the Caribbean’s biggest annual motor sport international, continues to grow. Of 70 first-time participants since 2011, around half have come from Ireland and some have already become repeat visitors.

As organisers, competitors and fans make ready for next weekend’s Circuit of Ireland (April 17-19), at which two volunteers will win a prize trip to Sol RB14, crews old and new from the Emerald Isle are confirmed for this year’s 25th running of the Barbados Rally Club’s (BRC) premier event; it runs on May 30-June 1, with Scotiabank King of the Hill and Simpson Motors Scrutineering the previous weekend (May 24/25).

Making their first trip to Sol RB are Kerry mechanic Brendan Brosnan and journalist Sean Moriarty. Brosnan’s unusual rear-wheel-drive Peugeot 205 is backed by Ardfert Quarry, KK Hydraulics, Diarmuid Tarrant Car Sales, Motoring World – Kerry-born Moriarty’s column in London’s Irish World newspaper – and Tralee Quick Fit, with support in Barbados from Time Out Hotel, Stoutes Car Rental and High Tide Watersports.

Brosnan has been rallying for more than 30 years, his successes at home including winning the 1985 Banna Winter Rally and the National event at the Rally of the Lakes in 2004. Moriarty started his rallying career co-driving for Brosnan in a Ford Escort MkII in 1991, finishing second in their home event, the Kerry Winter Rally.

This will not be Brosnan’s first trip across the Atlantic, however:
“My brother Dan emigrated to Boston years ago, and took his love of rallying with him. I have borrowed some of his cars to rally in the USA and won my class on several events. Dan is joining us in Barbados for a holiday.” Moriarty has also rallied in the States and contested almost every major rally in his homeland over the years, drivers he has sat with including Dennis Biggerstaff, who competed in Barbados in 2001. As well as Brosnan’s brother travelling from America, New York-based Enda McCormack will make his second trip to Sol RB in the Ford Escort MkII built for last year’s event by Philip Case Rallysport in County Donegal. Class-winner in the Dunlop Irish National Tarmac Rally Championship in 2012, most of his rallying has been in America, where he has been a regular podium finisher in the US Rally Championship since 2007. As last year, he will have Donegal’s Kieran McElhinney as co-driver.

Running with support from McCormack Contracting Inc and Doyle Construction, also back for a second year are Tommy Doyle, who hails from the same town as McCormack, Longford, and co-driver Liam Moynihan (Millstreet, County Cork) with their Renault Clio R3. Neither McCormack nor Doyle were classified as overall finishers last year, Doyle a retirement on day one, so both are hoping for better fortune.

Back home, Doyle and Moynihan have been showing good form in recent events, seventh overall and class winners in the Mayo Stages (March 9), third overall with another class win in the Moto Midlands Stages (March 30) and, last Sunday (April 6), second in class and 10th overall on the Circuit of Kerry . . . they finished once place ahead of Frank Kelly, fresh from his success the previous weekend in Rally Trinidad.

DUCKWORTH JOINS SOL RALLY BARBADOS RETURNEES

Posted: May 16, 2014 2:06 PM

Former UK National Rally Champion Roger Duckworth will make his fourth trip to Sol Rally Barbados this year, joining a growing list of returnees spread right through the field in the Caribbean’s biggest annual motor sport international. While he will be fighting at the sharp end, another four regular visitors are confirmed today in the Clubman, Group B and Historic classes.

Since Duckworth won the first of two prize drives in 2011 for winning Rallye Sunseeker National in the UK, he has not missed a trip to the Barbados Rally Club’s (BRC) premier event . . . and his results in the Intrynsis Subaru Impreza WRC S6 are heading in the right direction: seventh, sixth and then fifth overall, also WRC-2 winner, last year.

He has realistic ambitions for Sol RB14:
“I obviously have to set my sights on winning WRC-2 again, but any better overall result seems optimistic. But I really would like to try to have a clean start this year - I lost 20 to 30 seconds on the very first stage on the last two visits. In Barbados, that is an age, and it takes the whole rally to catch up.”

Since Sol RB13, Duckworth has seen little action, although he did win Rallye Sunseeker for a fifth time, becoming only the second driver to achieve a hat-trick of wins. His winning co-driver, for the fourth time, was Mark Broomfield, who makes his Barbados debut this year. Duckworth says:
“It was Mark’s 50th birthday this year, so his wife helped me encourage him to make the trip. We know each other pretty well when it comes to the stages - my first rally with Mark was 1991 Sunseeker.”

The BRC is celebrating the 25th running of its premier event, which began as the International All-Stage Rally in 1990; it is scheduled for May 30-June 1, with Scotiabank King of the Hill and Simpson Motors Scrutineering the previous weekend (May 24/25).

Scotland’s Kenny Hall, who will campaign his Clubman class Halltune Garage Opel Corsa with Dutch co-driver Fenny Wesselink, has seen even less action than Duckworth of late:
“The last time Fenny and I got out of a competing car was 2012 in Barbados, when the Puma landed on its side after hitting the cut rock. There’s been no motor sport in the last year, as the Corsa’s engine exploded on the start line of King of the Hill. I’ve rebuilt the engine and I’m really looking forward to coming back for our 12th visit.”

John Hardman, based in Wales but Northern Irish by origin, is returning with the John Hardman Engineering/PEC Tyres/Ian Rodgers Body Shop/Chicken Pen Racing/Star Products/Elite Racing Transmissions Nissan Micra, in which he won Group B2 last year. Now on his seventh visit, Hardman is also remembered for his remarkable four-wheel-drive Ford Fiesta.

On his first trip in 2005, Hardman took along Gary Thomas and Phil Ralphs, who finished 19th overall and second in SuperModified 12 in a Ford Escort MkII, with Hardman-built Vauxhall engine; a dnf on their return in 2010 was followed by 23rd overall and the Clubman-Historic class win in 2012.

A former Welsh Road Rally and Tarmac Stage Champion, Thomas’s rally car rental business, Tsalta Motorsport, will field two cars this year, as he and Ralphs are splitting up. Each will drive an Escort, Ralphs also backed by Cambrian Land Rover and Alun Pryce Transport, with co-driver Aled Lloyd Jones on only his fourth stage event as co-driver after many years as a passenger in Motorcycle Sidecar Enduro. Thomas has not yet nominated a co-driver.

FRANK KELLY/LIAM BRENNAN FOR SOL RALLY BARBADOS

Posted: May 16, 2014 2:01 PM

One of Northern Ireland’s most flamboyant – and successful – rear-wheel-drive exponents, Frank Kelly, will rally in the Caribbean twice in 2014, to experience both gravel and tarmac events. Tomorrow (Saturday) he flies south to prepare for the flowing loose-surface stages of Rally Trinidad the following weekend, and will return just a few weeks later to compete in the region’s biggest annual motor sport international, Sol Rally Barbados.

The Barbados Rally Club (BRC) is this year celebrating the 25th running of its premier event, which began as the International All-Stage Rally in 1990; it is scheduled for May 30-June 1, with Scotiabank King of the Hill and Simpson Motors Scrutineering the previous weekend (May 24/25).

An alarm and security engineer from Dungannon in County Tyrone, Kelly started rallying in 1993 in a Ford Fiesta, which came to a violent end in the Mid Antrim Forest Rally in 2001, which Kelly remembers as:
“A major accident. I had a broken collar bone and the Fiesta was a complete write-off, beyond repair.”

Since switching to Escorts, he has won a string of titles in Ireland, Scotland and across the UK on both gravel and tarmac, including the BTRDA Silver Star Championship in 2008, the UK’s most prestigious title for two-wheel-drive cars. In the past two years, having concentrated on rallying at home, he has twice won the Carlow Car Club’s MkII Challenge, and was the overall winner of the 2012 Todds Leap Ulster National Rally, beating a number of 4wd cars in what he considers one of the best drives of his career.

In 2012, he also won the MkII and 2wd titles in Ireland’s Dunlop National Rally Championship, and was named British Motorsport Marshals Club (BMMC) Driver of the Year at last year’s Association of Northern Ireland Car Club’s Prizegiving, an award presented by the body of marshals to the driver who has entertained them most.

Since 2008, Kelly has campaigned the Group 4 Ford Escort MkII, ‘Baby Blue’, which he will drive in Trinidad and Barbados; powered by a 2.5-litre 310bhp engine, and built and prepared by Kelly himself, it is backed by Bathshack.com, Kumho Tyres, Campbell Contracts, DMS Ireland, Charlie McEnery Motors and Panta Fuel. Co-driver Liam Brennan, aka ‘Brother Brennan’, has shared many of Kelly’s successes in recent years; he owns a vehicle bodyshop in Cork in the Republic of Ireland.

Born on Christmas Day, Kelly’s nickname ‘The Reindeer’ might seem an obvious choice, but that is not the reason, as Kelly explains: “Reindeer has been associated with myself and two other Irish drivers, Adrian Hetherington and Seamus O'Connell, for quite some time when we used to do battle for 2wd honours in the forests. Most of my rally career has been on gravel, hence the nickname, and nothing to do with my date of birth at all.”

FRIDAY NIGHT START FOR SOL RALLY BARBADOS 201

Posted: May 16, 2014 2:00 PM

Sol Rally Barbados, the Caribbean’s biggest annual motor sport international, will enjoy a major refresh for 2014, as the Barbados Rally Club (BRC) marks the 25th running of its blue riband event. Crews will need to be on their toes from the start, as the weekend’s action kicks off with a new Friday night SuperSpecial, one of three Power Stages over the weekend.

Although the times and locations are not yet confirmed, these and other changes to the event’s structure are published in the Additional Supplementary Regulations (ASRs), to be posted on the official web site (www.rallybarbados.net) this weekend. Sol RB14, first run as the International All-Stage Rally in 1990, is scheduled for May 30-June 1, with Scotiabank King of the Hill and Simpson Motors Scrutineering the previous weekend (May 24/25).

Rally Director Neil Barnard explained:
“Since the Ceremonial Start at Simpson Motors back in 2009, we have been looking for a way of starting the event on Friday evening. That experiment was met with mixed reactions, but one message came over loud and clear, from competitors and spectators alike – the one thing that was missing was action! Well, we can guarantee action this year, absolutely.”

Friday night’s opening stage will be the first of a total of 23, with 12 on Saturday and 10 on Sunday and the other two Power Stages rounding off each day’s action. As has been the case for the past two years, when Sunday’s last test was the Power Stage, bonus points in the BRC Driver’s and Class Championships will be awarded to the top three local crews in each Class.

BRC Competition Secretary Neil Corbin said:
“We had been considering a number of ways of rewarding success over Sol Rally Barbados weekend over and above the existing points system, as it is the event that demands the most time and commitment from our competitors.

“Our thinking is this: on Friday night, the Power Stage will encourage persons to come out of the gates flying, as points will be at stake. On Saturday night, persons who may not have been doing well or had issues, will have the opportunity to push on the final stage to gain extra points, with the same intended outcome on Sunday.” Other changes to the structure of the event include service and fuelling arrangements: the same central Service Park will be used on Saturday and Sunday, with two further designated service areas at the end of the first and second loops of stages; servicing and refuelling will only be permitted in these areas.

Barnard added:
“We have made these changes for a number of reasons, particularly the importance of safety in the Service Parks. They will also help with the smooth running of the event and limit the amount of inconvenience to persons living close to the rally route, who might otherwise suddenly find themselves with a rally crew servicing at the end of their gap.”

UK SUBARUS BOOST SOL RALLY BARBADOS NUMBERS

Posted: May 16, 2014 1:56 PM

Two Subaru Imprezas new to Sol Rally Barbados (May 31/June 1) are confirmed on the growing list of overseas entries for the Barbados Rally Club’s (BRC) 25th running of its premier event, also Scotiabank King of the Hill the previous weekend (May 25). They bring to 15 the cars already listed for the event’s four-wheel-drive classes on the official web site, www.rallybarbados.net.

Oxfordshire realtor Tim Green has entered his Green & Company Estate Agents Subaru Impreza in Group N, fulfilling a long-held ambition:
“I’ve been wanting to compete in Sol Rally Barbados for years, it is one of those events you have on your ‘to do’ list and, finally, here we are!”

Green has been competing for 31 years without a break, initially as a co-driver. He was Skoda Trophy Champion Driver in 1998, then twice won his Class in the BTRDA National Championship in 2000 and ‘01 in a Group N Proton Satria. His Swindon-based co-driver Rob Smith, a senior technician for Ferrari and Maserati, started his career as a driver, but has been co-driving for Green since 1997 and shared his three title wins.

Green, who has already attended Sol Rally Barbados to check out the event, added:
“The car has been competing for 11 years now so the least it deserved was a nice holiday in Barbados!” It is currently undergoing a complete rebuild in readiness for its Caribbean trip, but Green is hoping to fit in a shakedown event before shipping.
His co-driver is the second Rob Smith from the UK on this year’s entry list – the other will be driving the Weir Laundry Equipment Impreza in WRC-2. Green says: “We know of the other Rob Smith, having competed against him, but don't know him to chat to . . . yet! We had a bad crash on the Red Dragon Stages in South Wales in 2003, retiring on the same stage as Rob, so I’m sure we’ll find lots to talk about.”

Among the entries joining Rob Smith and co-driver Ross Weir in WRC-2 – the category caters for pre-2004 World Rally Cars – is Ray Brammer’s RB Trucks Ltd/Top Trucks-backed Impreza WRC S8. While this ex-prodrive car is new to Barbados, HGV repair company boss Brammer isn’t, having competed twice before, with 15th overall and fifth in Modified 8 the better of his two finishes in 2004 and ’05.

Then, he was competing in an ex-Kenny McKinstry Impreza and the link with the Ulsterman remains, as the current S8, which was driven by former World Champions Tommi Makinen and Petter Solberg in 2002, is prepared by McKinstry Motorsport. Brammer has also been competing against McKinstry, having concentrated on tarmac events in Ireland in recent years, with a number of top 10 finishes.

Brammer’s co-driver is Irish, too, Donegal car salesman Gary McElhinney, three-time winner of the Entertainer of the Rally Award at the Donegal Rally, which suggests he will enjoy Barbados! He started competing in 1998 and is another who is comfortable on both sides of the car, winning driver in the 2010 Enniskillen Clubmans Stages, having been winning co-driver in the Isle of Man Challenge Rally the year before.

In recent years, his co-driving expertise has taken him from European events in Belgium, Hungary and Spain across to the United States in a wide variety of machinery, from Clubman to WRC cars; he also sat with multiple Rallycross Champion, Irish legend Dermot Carnegie, when he ran as Zero Car at WRC Rally Ireland in 2009.

SOL RALLY BARBADOS 2014 4WD ENTRY WARMS UP

Posted: January 23, 2014 11:55 AM

More than one-third of the 60-plus entries so far received for Sol Rally Barbados 2014 will compete in the event’s four-wheel-drive classes, with strong support from overseas crews. Repeat UK visitors Tom Roberts and Simon Wallis are certainly looking forward to their return . . . both were in action recently in near-freezing temperatures in the annual MGJ Brands Hatch Stages in the south of England.

The Barbados Rally Club (BRC) celebrates the 25th running of its premier event this year - Sol RB14 is scheduled for May 31/June 1, with Scrutineering and Scotiabank King of the Hill the previous weekend (May 24/25). Entries are flowing in steadily on the official web site, www.rallybarbados.net, with the total now more than half-way to the entry cap of 100.

Neither driver finished the Brands Hatch event, in which Londoner Roberts and his girlfriend and co-driver Nicky Marriott had finished third in 2012 in his Group A Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI; engine problems caused his retirement on the second stage this time round, while Wallis fared little better, exhaust manifold issues side-lining the Cambridge Compilers Ltd Group N Subaru Impreza N10 just one stage later.

Roberts is returning to Barbados for his sixth visit since his 2002 debut in a Toyota Celica GT4, hoping for a return to his earlier form in the island after disappointing results on his last two outings. In 2012, his first trip with Marriott as co-driver, he retired on the first morning with mechanical trouble while lying second in class; even so, he had travelled further than in Sol RB09, when an accident on the very first stage, with Paul Rees as co-driver, is recalled as one of Roberts’s major disasters:
“It was the 17th corner, and I learned an important lesson: do not over-rule your co-driver when you think you can take a corner faster . . . ever!”

Previously, Roberts had claimed two solid finishes in Barbados: in 2005, he was 30th overall and second in Group N in a Subaru Impreza WRX, then 21st overall, fourth in Modified 8-A, three years later in the Evo VI, a car which had twice won the UK’s BTRDA Championship in the hands of its previous owner, Roger Chilman. Wallis is back for his ninth Rally Barbados and his third in the Impreza, which he bought as a 40th birthday present for himself in 2010, with a trip to Sol RB10 in mind. His eighth different co-driver in the island is Peter Horsman, who has been sitting with him since 2012; they missed Sol RB13 to tackle the famous Ypres Rally in Belgium instead, where they finished 42nd overall, fifth in Group N, and missed out on a European Rally Championship point by just one position.

On his previous visits to the island, Wallis, who runs a software consultancy in Cambridge, has had six finishes and posted two dnfs in a total of five different cars. His best results came in the early days, finishing second or third in Production 3 three years in a row in a trio of Vauxhall Astras.

ANGLIAS “GO HOME” FOR SOL RALLY BARBADOS

Posted: January 23, 2014 11:45 AM

When Scotland’s Allan Mackay returns to Sol Rally Barbados with his Ford Anglia WRC for his fifth visit in 2014, he will be back in what he describes as his rallying “home”. His flamboyant antics have won the hearts and minds of island fans, the fun delivered in double measure in 2013, when son Euan entered alongside him in the Anglia JWRC.

The Mackays were quick to act when entries for the Caribbean's biggest annual motor sport international opened on the official web site - www.rallybarbados.net – last month; they are among nearly 20 overseas entries received so far, of which four are newcomers to the event. As last year, the first 30 International entries received will benefit from the event’s programme of subsidies, which also includes loyalty discounts for repeat visitors.

At Sol RB14, the Barbados Rally Club (BRC) will celebrate the 25th running of its blue riband event. Subject to final ratification by the island’s governing body, the Barbados Motoring Federation (BMF), it will run on Saturday and Sunday, May 31/June 1, with Scrutineering and Scotiabank King of the Hill the previous weekend, May 24/25.

Mackay Snr was among a number of regular International competitors interviewed in a programme produced by Merville Lynch Productions and aired in August on the island’s television station, CBC, which sought to discover what brings repeat visitors back so frequently. The Scotsman’s take was clear and simple: “We’re clubman racers, we always will be, and back in the UK, its not that we’re not respected, but there just seems to be an attitude problem, and it seems never-ending. I’ve said it this year, and I don’t want to exaggerate, but I do feel, as far as rallying goes, I’m home . . . this is it.”

Despite a combined age of more than 100, the two Anglia 105Es - both are entered in SuperModified 10 - are among the most popular visitors to the island, providing more than enough sideways action to keep fans entertained. After retiring with bent steering on his first visit in 2010, former Scottish Tarmac Champion Allan has claimed three finishes, the best 29th overall in 2011, fourth in SM10. Once again, his co-driver will be Ireland’s ‘Mad Mo’ Downey.

After some overheating problems at Scotiabank King of the Hill, Euan brought the Anglia JWRC home 49th and seventh in SM10 in Sol RB13. He will have a new co-driver for 2014, 21-year-old Rory Fraser – as Euan explains:
“ He has only ever navigated once before . . . and we won the class at the Crail Summer Stages two days after getting back from supporting Dad in Barbados in 2012!”

Since Sol RB13, the Mackays have enjoyed themselves. Euan reports:
“Shortly after both cars came home from Barbados, we took part in Rally Hebrides in Stornoway. It’s a charity event for Macmillan Cancer Support and we raised more than £20,000, which was brilliant.”

Before they return to the Caribbean, both Anglias will undergo a checkover at the Mackay Motorsport garage. Euan added:
“My car needs to go get painted. I think it got sunburn at Rally Barbados. The WRC looks a bit different at the moment, too, as it had a full wrap in Tunnocks Teacakes design as it recently carried out Zero Car duties at Mull.”

ROB SWANN’S IN FOR SOL RALLY BARBADOS 2014

Posted: January 23, 2014 11:43 AM

Britain’s Rob Swann was first in line when entries for Sol Rally Barbados 2014, the Caribbean's biggest annual motor sport international, opened on the official web site - www.rallybarbados.net – on Tuesday (October 1). Returning for his seventh visit, Swann steps back up to WRC-1 with his recently-acquired ex-works Subaru Impreza WRC S11, backed by Waves Hotel and Spa Barbados and Cygnet Plant Ltd.

At Sol RB14, the Barbados Rally Club (BRC) will celebrate the 25th running of its blue riband event. Subject to final ratification by the island’s governing body, the Barbados Motoring Federation (BMF), it will run on Saturday and Sunday, May 31/June 1, with Scrutineering and Scotiabank King of the Hill the previous weekend, May 24/25.

Swann’s new car was driven by Petter Solberg in three events towards the end of 2005 on his way to finishing runner-up in the World Rally Championship; third place in this car on the Tour de Corse was one of his eight podium finishes that season, including three victories. Since then, the car has been campaigned in Ireland, mostly by Kevin Barrett, although Derek McGarrity drove it a handful of times and Kenny McKinstry once.



Swann’s best result in Barbados came at the wheel of a rented Impreza WRC S12, fifth in Sol RB11, co-driven by Darren Garrod; he won Group N in 2010 in an Impreza N14, a result repeated in Rally Jamaica six months later, making him the first driver to do the double in the same year, a remarkable achievement for an overseas visitor. For the last two years, he returned with that same car rebuilt to the UK’s B13 spec and ran last year in the island’s new WRC-2 category.

BIRD AIMS FOR SOL RALLY BARBADOS HAT-TRICK

Posted: January 23, 2014 11:41 AM

Former UK National Rally Champion Paul Bird is targetting a third consecutive victory at Sol Rally Barbados 2014 in the Frank Bird Poultry/Fuchs Titan Oils/Kick Energy/Rapid Solicitors Ford Focus WRC08. The most successful overseas visitor to the Caribbean's biggest annual motor sport international, he is also the first driver to have finished on the podium six years in a row, and would become only the second to claim a hat-trick.

From his base in Northern England, Bird, who will again have Aled Davies as co-driver, said
“After winning the event for the past two years, I’m hungry for the hat-trick so I’ve sent my entry in and stated my intentions early. We had a good run last year and had no major issues with the car and, for once, I didn’t make too many mistakes. This is a fantastic event and I’ve been privileged to win it two years in a row, so I hope to continue that into 2014. I’m not going all that way to finish second.”

The Barbados Rally Club (BRC) is celebrating the 25th running of its blue riband event next year, when Sol RB14 is scheduled for May 31/June 1, with Scrutineering and Scotiabank King of the Hill the previous weekend (May 24/25). Of the current total of nearly 40 entries posted on the official web site, www.rallybarbados.net, 29 are International, one shy of the cap of 30 crews which will benefit from the event’s programme of subsidies, which include loyalty discounts for repeat visitors.

The BRC is encouraging International crews to continue to post entries, however. Club PRO Neil Barnard said:
“It was a difficult decision to cap the subsidies at 30, but we have so far not disappointed anyone . . . for the last couple of years, we have had nearly 40 International entries, but up to 10 have withdrawn for a variety of reasons. When that happens, we simply move the next eligible entry into the subsidy bracket.

“The response for 2014 has been terrific, with six first-timers among the International entries, some with very interesting cars. In addition, with ‘Birdy’ stating he is not coming back to finish second and our Bajan aces determined to step back onto the top of the podium, we're in for a real fight for top honours next year."

In Sol RB13, Bird joined Ulstermen Kenny McKinstry and Kris Meeke on the list of two-time winners from overseas, enhancing his already impressive record; he finished second to Meeke in 2008 (Subaru Impreza WRC S9) and ’09 (Ford Focus WRC07), then third for the next two years in his Focus WRC08, before claiming the first of his two victories in 2012. Indeed, his record, achieved in just six years, is eclipsed only by those of local drivers Paul Bourne and Roger Skeete, whose stats cover more than two decades: Bourne, also a double winner, has finished twice six times and third four, while 12-time winner Skeete also has one second- and two third-place finishes to his credit.

SOL RALLY BARBADOS 2014 DATES ANNOUNCED

Posted: January 23, 2014 11:38 AM

Sol Rally Barbados reaches an important milestone in 2014, when the Barbados Rally Club (BRC) celebrates the 25th running of its blue riband event. Subject to final ratification by the island’s governing body, the Barbados Motoring Federation (BMF), Sol RB14 will run on Saturday and Sunday, May 31/June 1, with Scrutineering and Scotiabank King of the Hill the previous weekend, May 24/25. On-line entries for the Caribbean's biggest annual motor sport international will open on the official web site - www.rallybarbados.net – on October 1. Over recent years, entry numbers have risen significantly: 120 entries were received for Sol RB13, including 39 International crews, although withdrawals for financial or logistical reasons left the starters list at 94. From an entry of 121 for Sol RB12, the fall-out rate was lower, and 99 crews started, nine more than the previous record. Since 2011, 65 first-time visitors have carried the number of overseas participants hosted by the event since 1990 to more than 350, with continued interest from newcomers set to drive that figure through the 400 mark within the next two or three years. The biggest competitor base remains the UK and Ireland, but the event has attracted competitors from as far afield as Australia, Canada, Japan, Kenya, South Africa and the United States, as well as mainland Europe. Neil Barnard, PRO of the organising club, said: “Plans are already well under way to once again deliver an event focussed on its core values of being seriously competitive, while maintaining a relaxed clubman-type atmosphere. We will of course continue to deliver the level of hospitality that visiting crews and their families have come to enjoy.

“Its fantastic that Sol Rally Barbados is on the ‘must-do’ list for so many overseas competitors – it is an incredible tribute to all of our volunteer marshals and officials, who help us stage an event which measures up to world-class standards. I would encourage International crews to enter early, as the first 30 will again benefit from subsidies, especially those who have competed in previous years.”

From small beginnings in 1990, the BRC’s premier event has grown into the Caribbean’s biggest annual motor sport international and a key player in the country’s sports-tourism product; it contributes nearly Bds $4 million to the island's economy each year, much of it in vital foreign exchange, and accounts for approaching 4,000 visitor nights at a traditionally quiet time in the tourism calendar.

A second successive victory in Sol RB13 for England’s Paul Bird was the sixth win for an International crew since the first by Northern Ireland’s Kenny McKinstry in 1993; he won again in 1996, while fellow countryman Kris Meeke added to the roll of honour in 2008 & ’09. Only two Regional drivers have won, both from Jamaica – Jeff Panton in 1998 and Gary Gregg in 2006. Of the other events, 12 have been won by Barbados rallying legend Roger Skeete, with the remaining victories shared by local drivers Paul Bourne (twice), Trevor Manning and Roger Mayers. Sol Rally Barbados is a two-day tarmac rally, with 22 special stages run on the island’s intricate network of public roads, under road closure orders granted by the Ministry of Transport & Works; the previous weekend’s Scotiabank King of the Hill ‘shakedown’, run under a similar arrangement, features four timed runs on a roughly three-kilometre stage, the results of which are used to seed the running order for the main event.

New FAQ document posted to event web site

With overseas interest in Sol Rally Barbados growing steadily, particularly from first-timers, the Barbados Rally Club has posted a new FAQ document on the official web site – www.rallybarbados.net. Available as a pdf download, it can be found on the home page, and will be updated regularly. Among the topics covered are travel arrangements, accommodation and car rental for competitors, shipping and safe storage of their vehicles, fuel regulations and an outline of the schedule of activities.

Sol Rally Barbados and Scotiabank King of the Hill are organised by the Barbados Rally Club, which celebrated its 55th Anniversary in 2012; Sol RB14 is the 25th running of the Club’s annual International All-Stage Rally and marks the seventh year of title sponsorship by the Sol Group, the Caribbean’s largest independent oil company.

Website / Regulations / Details

Posted: January 23, 2014 11:38 AM

Rally Barbados