RUF 'N' TUF BACK FOR SECOND NAVIGATIONAL SEASON

The Barbados Rally Club (BRC) is celebrating this week: following Monday's announcement that Virgin Atlantic is to sponsor the BRC Driver's Championship in 2005 comes confirmation that Barbados Industries Ltd will again back the club's 4 x 4 Navigational Championship under its brand name Ruf 'n' Tuf.
The inaugural Navigational Championship was one of the big success stories of Barbados motor sport in 2004, with nearly 100 competitors turning out to contest the four qualifying rounds. One of the main aims of the championship is to attract newcomers to the sport, keen to learn the art of navigation, which is at the very heart of rallying and the starting point for co-drivers the world over.
Barbados Industries Ltd boss Mark Sabga, an off-road enthusiast for many years, said: "The success of our first sponsorship went far beyond what we had expected, so I am delighted to sponsor this championship again."
BRC Navigational Committee member Lindsay Farmer, who has been a prime mover behind the growth of Navigational events, said: “We are very pleased that the success of the 2004 championship has resulted in the return of Ruf 'N' Tuf to support our second season, and look forward to a competitive season."
In addition to the title sponsor, other companies have joined forces to support the 2005 championship. AutoZone is to sponsor an award for sportsmanship at each event this year - the company presented the award for part of the 2004 season - while Neptune Tours is supporting trophies for the highest-placed Novice crew in each event and for the highest-placed Novice navigator and driver at year-end.
In addition, each round of the 2005 Ruf 'N' Tuf 4x4 BRC Navigational Championship will have individual sponsorship; round one, on Saturday, February 26 - the Toyo Tires 4x4 Safari - will be backed by McEnearney Quality, from whose Wildey premises in St Michael the event will start at 2.00pm.
The route covers approximately 85 kilometres, taking in the tracks and gullies of St Michael, St George, St Philip, Christ Church and St John, finishing at Kendal Plantation Yard, St John, at around 8.30pm. Both BRC and Tulip-type navigation will be used. The route setters are last year's championship-winning navigator Kenny Croney, and Philip McConney, who finished second overall in the driver's championship.
The briefing meeting is scheduled for next Tuesday (February 22) at 7.00pm at the Barbados Clay Target Shooting Association in Searles, Christ Church, where entries will open, then close at the end of the meeting. This year, late entries will be permitted at AutoZone in Fontabelle, with a late entry fee being applied. Anyone interested in marshalling the event is also invited to the briefing meeting.

Ruf 'N' Tuf BRC 4 x 4 Navigational Championship - qualifying rounds:
Round 1 - February 26
Round 2 - June 25
Round 3 - August 27
Round 4 - November 12
* drivers will count their scores from all rounds

For further information, robin@bradfax.com