IRISH TRIO RETURN FOR SOL RALLY BARBADOS

Ireland will be well represented when Sol Rally Barbados 2010 (May 29/30) marks the 20th Anniversary of the inaugural running of the Barbados Rally Club’s (BRC) International All-Stage Rally; among the 15 overseas entries already received on-line are three Irish drivers returning to join in the celebrations.
While Glenn Campbell is making only his second trip to the island, for Peter Gallagher and Martin Taylor, 2010 will mark their fifth participation in Rally Barbados, although it will present a different challenge, as each is bringing a new car.
On his previous four visits, Taylor has campaigned his Dublin Crystal-sponsored Proton Satria, twice each in Modified 6 and Production 2; in 2003 & ’04, Gallagher was his co-driver, replaced by Taylor’s wife Janet for their visits in ’07 & ’08, once Gallagher decided to switch to the driver’s side of the car. Taylor’s 100 per cent overall finishing record includes a class win in P2 (‘04), with 33rd (‘03) his best overall result.
Dublin-based Gallagher also has a 100 per cent overall finishing record and a class win to his credit – P3 in ’08 – when he finished 33rd overall in his ex-works Dublin Crystal/Peter Gallagher Design Peugeot 306 S16; on both his visits as a driver, he has been joined on Rally Barbados by local co-driver Dario Hoyte, who is listed to sit alongside Gallagher again in 2010 . . . but this time it will be in a Peugeot 206 in M6.
Taylor’s change of machine is rather more drastic, as he is switching from front- to rear-wheel drive: between entering on-line in mid-December and an e-mail to the Rally Office last week, Taylor has acquired a BMW 325i, previously used in the increasingly-popular BMW Challenge rally series in the UK. His change of car brings the number of BMWs already entered for Sol Rally Barbados to six – the Bavarian marque is currently second equal with Ford in the league table of makes entered, Toyota leading with nine.
Ulsterman Campbell’s first visit was last year, the former Northern Ireland 2wd Champion making an immediate impression in his Nissan Micra; with co-driver Anthony Concannon, he finished second in Modified 5, as Scotland’s Kenny Hall collected his third Group win. For his second visit, Campbell, who is yet to name a co-driver, will be sponsored by Campbell Motorsport Electrics, Dyno Tune, Burn Road Trade Sales, Motorcare, MotoGlass, Agnew Recovery and Graham Curry Photography.
Last weekend in Ireland, Campbell and fellow-Irishman Graham Curry collected the Class 3 Driver and Navigator Awards respectively at the Mid Antrim Motor Club’s annual awards dinner; photographer Curry was another first-time visitor to Barbados in 2009 and has provided enthusiastic and valuable coverage in Irish magazines.

Airline and hotel deals confirmed for overseas visitors

Preferential travel and accommodation rates for Sol Rally Barbados 2010 are confirmed today in the updated Overseas Competitor Information document, now available as a pdf download from the Competitor section of the official web site (www.rallybarbados.bb).
Official Airline Partner Virgin Atlantic has set the adult fare at £438, including taxes, with child and infant fares also available; on the accommodation front, Official Hotel Partner, the Divi Southwinds Beach Resort, has confirmed room rates of US $120 (double-occupancy room) and US $170 (Penthouse, two bedrooms) plus taxes at 17 per cent, along with a 25 per cent discount on food & beverage.
Rally Chairman Barry Gale says: “The flight price is extremely favourable given the current climate, while the accommodation package offers excellent value, especially when you take into account the 25 per cent food & beverage discount, additional to the preferential room rate. Full details can be found under the appropriate headings in our information document, and I would urge visitors to check it out and start booking soon, so we and our Partners can accurately gauge the demand and adjust, if necessary.”

Sol Rally Barbados (May 29/30) and Shell V-Power King of the Hill (May 23) are organised by the Barbados Rally Club, which celebrated its 50th Anniversary in 2007; Sol RB2010 marks the 20th Anniversary of the inaugural running of the Club’s International All-Stage Rally.

For further information:
e-mail - robin@bradfax.com