Rally

Winner of Sol Rally Barbados in 2008 & ’09, Northern Ireland’s Kris Meeke has confirmed that he will return to the Caribbean’s biggest annual motor sport International this year to revisit the event that he once described as “the best 10 days of my life”.   His victories in the Barbados Rally Club’s (BRC) premier event were not without their challenges: in the first year, a propshaft snapped on the startline of Sunday’s first stage, leaving him with a two-wheel-drive Toyota Corolla WRC for the rest of the day.

As preparations move into top gear for Sol Rally Barbados 2012 (June 9/10), regular visitors Paul Bird, Kenny Hall and Martin Stockdale have been at the forefront of the European invasion of the island, which started at the weekend. Scheduled flights carrying competitors and their families will land at the island’s Grantley Adams International Airport every day this week, airlifting a record International entry.

With the return of a multiple Champion, upgrades galore and some determined International competition, the Modified classes in Sol Rally Barbados 2012 (June 9/10) promise to keep the fans entertained long after the battles for supremacy overall and in two-wheel-drive have passed through each stage.   In Modified 7 (1600-2000cc), five former Barbados Rally Club (BRC) M7 Champions will go head-to-head, with the return of Edward Corbin, who won a hat-trick of titles starting in 2003.

While the battle for the podium places in Sol Rally Barbados 2012 (June 9/10) will almost certainly be the preserve of the best WRC entry in the event’s history – nine ex-works cars among a total four-wheel-drive entry of 23 - spectators will not have to look too far down the top 10 to find the highest-placed two-wheel-drive crew.

For the third straight year, the Caribbean’s biggest annual motor sport International, Sol Rally Barbados, has attracted a record entry. Between October and the closing date a week ago (May 14), 121 entries were posted on-line at the event’s official web site – www.rallybarbados.bb – of which 108 remain on the provisional entry list, published by the Barbados Rally Club (BRC) during a media conference today (Monday).

Provisional entry list at May 21 + driver/co-driver (car) – listed alphabetically by class + some classifications subject to scrutineering + this list includes stand-by entries which will be incorporated into the final start list in accordance with the provisions of the ASRs Key to nationalities (competitor from Barbados unless shown): ARG – Argentina; CDN – Canada; ENG – England; JAM – Jamaica; KEN – Kenya; NED – The Netherlands; NIR – Northern Ireland; RSA – South Africa; SCO – Scotland; TCI – Turks & Caicos Islands; TRI – Trinidad & Tobago; USA – United States of America; WAL – W

While anticipation among island fans about the record-breaking overseas invasion for Sol Rally Barbados 2012 (June 9/10) is reaching fever pitch, local competitors are concentrating on their preparations for the highlight of the season. Shell V-Power King of the Hill (June 3) and Sol RB12 – each day is a separate round – offer three chances to score points towards the Barbados Rally Club (BRC) Virgin Atlantic Championships.   After three rounds, it is tight at the top.