BRC SEASON GETS UNDER WAY SUNDAY

Virgin Atlantic is to sponsor the Barbados Rally Club (BRC) Driver's Championship in 2005. The club's competition season is slated to get under way this Sunday (February 20) with a loose-surface speed event, heralding an unexpected return to the Black Bess Plantation in St Peter.
The Virgin Atlantic BRC Driver's Championship will consist of eight rounds, the highlight of which will be Rally Barbados in May, in which each day will count as a separate points-scoring opportunity. In addition to three one-day rallies organised by the BRC, the championship will include the Vaucluse Raceway Motor Sport Club's (VRMSC) International RallySprint in May, and the first day of the Motoring Club of Barbados Inc's (MCBI) Tarmac Rally in September.
The championship follows the same class structure as in the past, and drivers will count their best seven scores from the eight rounds. At year-end, each class-winner will claim a return ticket to London on Virgin Atlantic.
Rachel Pilgrim, sales & marketing manager of Virgin Atlantic, said: "We have been associated with the Barbados Rally Carnival since the start in 2001, so our sponsorship of the BRC's championship is a natural progression. Virgin Atlantic is delighted to assist the club with some exceptional fares to enable it to send every championship class winner to see the Wales Rally GB in style."
BRC competition secretary Barry Gale said: "We are really excited about the sponsorship from Virgin. Our championship was without major support last year, and I believe it suffered for that. With the incentive of the tickets on offer from Virgin Atlantic, there has already been an encouraging increase in competitor enquiries, so I am looking forward to a very healthy season."
The championship's opening round will be this weekend's Loose Speed Event at Black Bess, scheduled for an 8.00am start on Sunday; there will be one practice run, followed by three timed runs, using most elements of the usual course - for this event, it will start at the top of the hill, run westward down to the grass section, around the trees, then back to the tarmac, the grass hairpin and down to the finish line.
Of the return to the popular venue, Gale said: "When we used Black Bess at the end of 2004, it looked certain that the development of the site would be under way by now. I would like to say thanks to the owners of the property for their support in once again allowing us to use it - even though last year was supposed to be the last chance - and also to the residents in the area for their support."
Sunday's event is one of a number of shared by the BRC and MCBI this season and Gale remarks: "We are pleased to be sharing a loose event with the MCBI, and look forward to welcoming those MCBI members taking part."
In addition to the Driver's Championship, the BRC will be launching a new competition in 2005, rewarding overall achievement, with points scored and trophies awarded for top 10 finishes on the club's four rallies. Full details of this new championship will be revealed shortly.

Virgin Atlantic BRC Driver's Championship
Round 1 - February 20, BRC Gravel Sprint
Round 2 - March 6, BRC Gravel Stage Rally
Round 3 - April 17, BRC Tarmac Stage Rally
Round 4 - May 21/22, VRW International RallySprint (organised by VRMSC)
Rounds 5 & 6 - May 28/29, Rally Barbados
Round 7 - September 10/11, Tarmac Stages Rally (organised by MCBI)
Round 8 - October 16, BRC Tarmac Stage Rally
* drivers will count their seven best scores

For further information, robin@bradfax.com