Rally

Dane Skeete and Tyler Mayhew in their Subaru Impreza WRC S12 won First Citizens King of the Hill (KotH) on Sunday (May 26), the final shakedown before next weekend’s BCIC Rally Barbados (May 31-June 2). It was their second KotH victory – they also won in 2020 – while Roger Mayers and Barry Ward (Toyota WR Starlet) became the first crew to finish top 2wd three years in a row since the event first ran in 2008.

Key to nationalities (competitor from Barbados unless shown): CDN – Canada; ENG – England; IRL – Republic of Ireland; JAM – Jamaica; SCO – Scotland; WAL – Wales

A record 98 cars are listed on the running order published today (Thursday) for Sunday’s (May 26) First Citizens King of the Hill. The starters list has exceeded 90 only twice since 2008 - the previous record was 95 in KotH 2019 – and this year drivers and co-drivers from 12 nations are set to contest the final shakedown before BCIC Rally Barbados 2024 (May 31-June 2), the 34th edition of the Barbados Rally Club’s premier event.

Countries (competitor from Barbados unless shown): CDN – Canada; ENG – England; IRL – Republic of Ireland; JAM – Jamaica; LCA – St Lucia; SCO – Scotland; TCI – Turks & Caicos; T&T – Trinidad & Tobago; USA – United States of America; WAL – Wales

no driver/co-driver (class/sponsors/car)

Next Saturday’s Auto & Rally Show, now in its third year at Bushy Park Barbados, is set to be the biggest yet. Rally fans have an unrivalled opportunity to pore over more than 100 cars entered for First Citizens King of the Hill (May 26) and BCIC Rally Barbados (May 31-June 2), while hundreds of patrons have already signed up for road car test drives offered by the island’s automotive sector, new for this year.

A record number of 24 female participants are listed on the provisional entry list for BCIC Rally Barbados 2024 (May 31-June 2) . . . but they are just the tip of the iceberg. Adding in female volunteer marshals and officials, crew members and media personnel carries the number of Women in Motorsport (WiM) working on the Caribbean’s biggest annual motorsport International well into three figures.

The Geest Line freighter Baltic Klipper docked at the Bridgetown Port early yesterday (Tuesday) with a cargo including 22 rally cars shipped from the UK and Ireland . . . but it was almost only 21, as last-minute delays nearly ended British driver Tom Stockdale’s childhood dream of competing alongside his father Martin, who this year participates in the Barbados Rally Club’s (BRC) premier event for a record 22nd time.

Chris Hoad leads the chase for the coveted Barbados Rally Club (BRC) Champion Driver crown ahead of the two marquee events of the year, First Citizens King of the Hill (May 26) and BCIC Rally Barbados 2024 (May 31-June 2). With island motor sport in rude health, 48 drivers have already scored points in the BRC Driver’s & Class Championships – a record this early in the season – and nearly 20 more will join in shortly.

The provisional entry list for the Caribbean’s biggest annual motor sport international lists more than 100 local, regional and international rally crews for only the second time in its 34-year history. With a new title sponsor, BCIC Rally Barbados 2024 has attracted 103 entries, the most in 12 years, including the first Volkswagen Polo GTi R5 to compete in the island, being flown in by returning Irish driver Barry McKenna.

British Caribbean Insurance Company (BCIC) has offered general insurance products to Jamaicans for more than 50 years and opened its first overseas branch in Barbados in 2017. From its offices at Manor Lodge, Green Hill, the company underwrites all major lines of insurance and offers insurance for private cars, commercial vehicles, electric vehicles, motorcycles and PSVs, also 24-hour islandwide emergency breakdown roadside assistance through BCIC Assist.