Rally

Support from Irish competitors for Sol Rally Barbados, the Caribbean’s biggest annual motor sport international, continues to grow. Of 70 first-time participants since 2011, around half have come from Ireland and some have already become repeat visitors.

The Barbados Rally Club’s (BRC) 2014 season kicks up a gear on Sunday (April 13) with the Valvoline Rally. Before crews tackle the day’s 10 stages in the north of the island, fans are invited to interact with them at Scrutineering tomorrow (Saturday) at Automotive Art, Welches, between noon and 5.00pm.

Announced on the Top Gear Festival Barbados Facebook page today - Group B cars are coming to Barbados!

Along with a photo of the iconic Lancia, Top Gear have announced that they are bringing Group B cars to Barbados for the festival. So what can we expect?

As a watershed season of island motor sport gathers momentum, the National Sporting Authority, the Barbados Motoring Federation (BMF), has launched a ground-breaking operational and safety training programme. With local volunteers now accredited to deliver bespoke courses, the BMF will be training not only its marshals, but also its senior officials and – for the first time in a decade – its competition licence-holders.

Former UK National Rally Champion Roger Duckworth will make his fourth trip to Sol Rally Barbados this year, joining a growing list of returnees spread right through the field in the Caribbean’s biggest annual motor sport international. While he will be fighting at the sharp end, another four regular visitors are confirmed today in the Clubman, Group B and Historic classes.

As competitors in the Barbados Rally Club (BRC) Driver’s and Class Championships start preparations for the upcoming Valvoline Rally (Sunday, April 13), the second of eight rounds this year, there is a three-way tie in the Champion Driver’s title chase between Andrew Mallalieu, Josh Read and Daryl Clarke.

The Barbados Rally Club (BRC) has stepped up its worldwide promotion of Sol Rally Barbados 2014 by joining forces with event organisers on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. In association with the island’s private-sector Tourism Development Corporation (TDC), the Club is offering three motor sport volunteers a once-in-a-lifetime chance to experience the Caribbean’s biggest annual motor sport international.