News

  Two of the most successful British visitors to the Caribbean in recent years, Paul Bird and Rob Swann, have confirmed their entries for Sol Rally Barbados 2012 (June 9/10) through the event’s official web site, www.rallybarbados.bb. Entered for the fifth consecutive year, both have also become regular visitors to the island for family holidays outside rally season.

  Seven crews with Irish connections, including two new to the event, are among the 21 International entries already received for Sol Rally Barbados 2012 (June 9/10) through the event’s official web site, www.rallybarbados.bb . . . and the organising Barbados Rally Club (BRC) has thanked the media for the part it plays in spreading the word.   The latest newcomers confirmed for the Caribbean’s biggest annual motor sport international are Raymond Conlon and Darren McCague from County Monaghan in the Irish Border Region.

  For the third year in a row, the Turks & Caicos Islands will be represented in Sol Rally Barbados . . . but with a difference. For the 2012 running of the Caribbean’s biggest annual motor sport international on June 9/10, Paul Horton is shipping his Ford Escort MkI, to replace the Honda Civic which he has driven for the past two seasons.

Motor sport in Barbados is in good health, and making a growing contribution to the island’s sports-tourism product. For the first time since the Barbados Motoring Federation (BMF) was established in 2000, more than 400 local competitors took part in BMF-sanctioned events during the recently-concluded season . . . and that total is boosted to nearly 500 by a record number of overseas competitors, bringing worldwide publicity and valuable foreign exchange to the island.