News

  A record-breaking Celtic ‘invasion force’ left Ireland late afternoon Wednesday (May 1) to tackle the Caribbean’s biggest annual motor sport International. Ten rally cars were loaded on to a transporter in the north of the ‘Emerald Isle’ to start the nearly 5,000-mile journey to compete in Sol Rally Barbados 2013 (June 1/2).   Having been assembled at a ‘secret location’ in County Antrim, the cars left Ireland by ferry from Belfast to Birkenhead, part of a 550-mile trip to Portsmouth on the English south coast, where all the remaining cars from Europe were already gathering.

  Roger Skeete and Louis Venezia claimed their first victory for the season in the Sol/Michelin/Simpson Motors/Da Costa Mannings Auto Centre Subaru Impreza WRC S12 in Sunday’s (April 28) Valvoline Rally. Despite some challenges, including the rain which fell in the afternoon, the Barbados Rally Club (BRC) successfully ran all 10 planned stages at two venues in the north of the island.

  Trevor ‘Micey’ Manning is back! A former winner of the island’s premier event, popular with fans for his flamboyant driving style, he will compete in Sol Rally Barbados for the first time since 2009 . . . he replaces the injured Logan Watson in his BMW M3, nick-named ‘Crackers’, a rear-wheel-drive car that ideally suits Manning’s persona.

Mark Western and Robin Hinds won Saturday’s (April 13) Chefette April Safari by the smallest possible margin - one penalty point. The result was the closest finish in a navigational event since the Toyota November Safari of 2005, when they were also involved . . . but as the losers, by two points, to Lindsay Farmer and Megan Blades.   Aboard the Kar Parts Store/GWS/Esso Barbarees Hill/Yardman Nissan Patrol, Western/Hinds were trailing at the end of route 1, 69 penalty points behind Audley and Jeremy Croney (CC Motorsports Suzuki Vitara).