Rally

Flow King of the Hill joins St John We Gatherin’ calendar

Trinidad & Tobago’s David Coelho is the first regional entry confirmed for Sol Rally Barbados 2020, bringing to 10 the number of four-wheel-drive entries so far posted on-line, with huge growth anticipated in those classes, particularly with Sol RB20’s inclusion in the 2020 FIA NACAM Championship. The 31st running of the Barbados Rally Club’s (BRC) premier event is scheduled for Friday to Sunday, May 29 to 31, with The Rally Show and Flow King of the Hill the previous weekend.

Panton and Swann enjoy feisty Fiesta battle

Former UK National Rally Champion Roger Duckworth, a podium finisher on his last two visits to Sol Rally Barbados, has confirmed he will return for the ninth time for Sol RB20 (May 29-31), although he will miss the previous Sunday’s Flow King of the Hill. He and co-driver Mark Broomfield kicked off their 30th season as a rallying partnership at Cadwell Park in the east of England last Sunday (February 2), when they finished 10th in the TJS Self Drive Alan Healy Memorial Stages.

Edward Corbin finally celebrates Champion Driver title

More than 80 competitors and volunteers, representing both sides of the island’s motor sport community, were recognised for their achievements and commitment to the sport at the Barbados Rally Club’s (BRC) Annual Prizegiving at Bentley Manor House, St Philip, on Saturday (February 1). After a number of near-misses, Edward Corbin finally claimed the Champion Driver title, emerging as one of the night’s big winners, also taking the Modified 1 and 2wd Championship trophies.

Horton enters Galway International in Fiesta R5

The enthusiasm of the island’s fan base and the selflessness of fellow competitors are among the key drivers behind British couple Sean Kukula and Emma Arthur’s decision to return to Sol Rally Barbados for the third time this year. The 31st running of the Barbados Rally Club’s (BRC) premier event is scheduled for Friday to Sunday, May 29 to 31, with The Rally Show and Flow King of the Hill the previous weekend.

The island’s motor sport family have joined together to pay tribute to Freddie Gale, who died on this week at the age of 71 after more than 50 years involvement in the sport. Barbados Rally Club (BRC) Chairman Mark Hamilton said: “Our Club, the wider motor sport community and - I venture to say - Barbados has lost a stalwart of a man. May he rest in peace and the Good Lord comfort his family at this time. Our thoughts are with Katie, Barry, Rachel and the wider family . . .”

Swann joins Panton for Cadwell Park Caribbean R5 Challenge

Britain’s Nigel Worswick will celebrate his 10th consecutive visit to participate in Sol Rally Barbados this year with a fun-filled head-to-head battle with old friend Philip Burton, who is competing in the island for the first time, after visiting as service crew in the past. Having driven his Ford Escort WRC to an island best of eighth overall and second in Modified 4 in Sol RB19, Worswick will return with the MkII Escort in which he first contested the event in 2011, with Burton at the wheel of a near-identical car.

Rally Club finalising plans for 2020 Championship

Britain’s Rob Swann is in upbeat mood about Sol Rally Barbados 2020 after winning last Sunday’s (December 29) Mini Tempest Rushmoor Stages in the South of England on his second outing to assess a Ford Fiesta WRC. Runner-up in the Caribbean’s biggest motor sport International three times, he lost out in 2017 and ‘18 to Jamaica’s Jeffrey Panton, who is reviewing his own options ahead of Sol RB20 with an entry on a single-venue event in the UK next month in a Fiesta R5.