ANNIVERSARY SHAKE-UP FOR SOL RALLY BARBADOS

The Shell V-Power SuperSpecial at Simpson Motors confirmed today (Wednesday) is the highlight of a major shake-up of the route for Sol Rally Barbados 2010 (May 29/30), which marks the 20th Anniversary of the inaugural running of the Barbados Rally Club’s (BRC) International All-Stage Rally.
All but one of the event’s special stage venues has undergone some significant modification, while the restructured route abounds with changes, which will go some way to levelling the playing field for local and overseas competitors. Following its use for Shell V-Power King of the Hill the previous weekend, Sailor Gully is replaced on Saturday by Malvern, while Stewarts Hill takes over the Malvern slots on Sunday.
But it is the Shell V-Power SuperSpecial at Simpson Motors on the Sunday afternoon that will set rally fans talking islandwide; the one-kilometre course will run south to north in front of the main showroom, then wind around the complex behind the ITC building in Warrens to finish behind the north showroom. Arrangements for traffic, spectator parking and viewing areas will be announced closer to the time.
Also, for the first time, the SuperSpecial will be included in the results; in previous years, it has only been necessary for competitors to start the SuperSpecial to be eligible for an overall finish, but this year’s two runs will be included in the timing calculations.
During last month’s media briefing, Sol Rally Barbados Chairman Barry Gale told reporters: “Each year, we look carefully at the event to see where it can be tweaked to meet our permanent aim of making it ‘the best Rally Barbados’ yet! And I think the new SuperSpecial will bring our 20th Anniversary celebrations to a rousing finale.
“But we are also very aware of the social partnership and our responsibilities as corporate citizens; the other changes made continue the work we started last year to make the route as compact as possible. This has multiple benefits, as it means less disruption for residents island-wide, but also offers a big plus for spectators – if you take Automotive Art Canefield as an example, around half an hour after the last car has been through on the first run, the Zero car should be on the stage preparing for the second run. It also means less hanging around for competitors, so everyone benefits.”
On Saturday, the route reverts to 12 stages from 14 in 2009, with six each in two loops before and after lunch; the rally starts at Andrews Factory in St Joseph, which is also the service area for the day. Three uphill runs of what has become the event’s signature stage, Automotive Art Canefield, will alternate with LIME Malvern West in the morning; the directions will be switched for three runs at each venue in the afternoon.
From the restart on Sunday from Bushy Park, the morning loop of six stages will alternate between Stewarts Hill North and Karcher Kendal South; the directions will be switched for two runs at each venue in the afternoon, before competitors head for the Shell V-Power SuperSpecial at Simpson Motors.

Programme of key events

Saturday, May 22 - 1.00pm to approx 8.00pm – Local & International Scrutineering
+ Simpson Motors, Warrens, St Michael
Sunday, May 23 - 10.00am to approx 4.00pm - Shell V-Power King of the Hill
+ round five of the Virgin Atlantic BRC Driver’s and Class Championships
+ Sailor Gully, St Peter, with one practice and three official timed runs
Saturday, May 29 - Sol Rally Barbados 2010 – day 1
+ round six of the Virgin Atlantic BRC Driver’s and Class Championships
+ start at 9.00am from Andrews Factory, St Joseph, which is also the service area
Sunday, May 30 - Sol Rally Barbados 2010 – day 2
+ round seven of the Virgin Atlantic BRC Driver’s and Class Championships
+ restart at 07.30am from Bushy Park, St Philip, which is also the service area
+ Shell V-Power SuperSpecial at Simpson Motors, Warrens, St Michael
Monday, May 31 - approx 3.30pm – Sol RB2010 Prizegiving
+ The Boatyard, Bay Street, St Michael

Sol Rally Barbados 2010 (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; title sponsor is the Sol Group. Marketing partners are Simpson Motors, LIME, Automotive Art, Banks and Karcher; official partners are the Barbados Hotel & Tourism Association, Barbados Tourism Authority, Divi Southwinds Beach Resort, Geest Line and Virgin Atlantic Airways; associate sponsors are Stoute’s Car Rental, Glacial Pure, Chefette and Little Switzerland.

For further information:
media contact – robin@bradfax.com