The region’s most prestigious rally event is continuing to set records.
With 103 crews set to take part in the BCIC Rally Barbados at month end, it will mark the largest number of competitors in over a decade to participate in the Caribbean’s biggest annual motor sport event.
This was revealed by event director Neil Barnard during a press conference on Friday afternoon at Bushy Park, where details of the May 31 to June 2 event were disclosed.
Barnard disclosed that in Rally Barbados’ 34-year history, only in 2012 were there more crews.
He said those figures proved that Rally Barbados continued to be a hit with regional and international competitors, along with local drivers.
“We have 103 crews currently listed and it’s the highest number since the record in 2012 of 108. We actually had 111, but we had a few people drop out just between the Shakedown rally and now.
“We have participants from 13 countries. We have 65 overseas drivers and co-drivers, including 15 who are new to the event and we have 67 local crews. This in itself speaks volumes to the health of local motorsport and the health of local rallying.
“We haven’t seen this kind of level of local participation in rallying since 2012, so that’s over 10 years. We also have a record number of female competitors, with 24 participating,” he added.
For the first time in three years, Barbados’ driving sensation Zane Maloney will not be competing in the First Citizens King of the Hill event, which precedes Rally Barbados.
Maloney, who represents Rodin Motorsport, currently leads the drivers’ standings in the 2024 FIA Formula 2 Championships.
Barnard said while he did not know the reason for Maloney’s absence, he suggested it may be because of the 20 year old’s hectic schedule.
“Zane is now competing not only in F2 but he is also a reserve driver for Andretti, so I think he has a busy, busy year. Plus as we know he is currently leading the Formula 2 Championship, which in itself is quite amazing,” he explained.
While Barnard admitted that there were no “big names” competing in this year’s Rally Barbados, he maintained that it would still be very competitive and exciting.
He said New Zealand’s duo of Hayden Paddon and co-driver John Kennard would not be back to defend their title. Paddon and Kennard also won the King of the Hill event in 2023.
“There aren’t any surprises this year. We’ve had a lot of interest, but last year we were very blessed to have some support that enabled Hayden Paddon to come and compete on the island. This year things are a little tighter. We have some major competition with World Cup cricket which happens right after our rally…” Barnard pointed out.
“But in saying that it doesn’t mean that by any stretch of the imagination that the competition during the rally itself will be any less.”
The event director revealed that there would be a major shakeup in the format of this year’s Rally Barbados, with the traditional north Saturday and south Sunday order reversed.
There will be two floodlit stages at Bushy Park on Friday night, either side of a run through nearby Featherbed Lane. Saturday’s nine stages will be at three venues in the south-east of the island and Sunday’s in the north, with the rally finish at the Vaucluse Raceway.
Manager of Sports Tourism at the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc (BTMI), Kamal Springer lauded the event, pointing out that it continued to attract hundreds of visitors to the island’s shores.
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