TEXACO TO SPONSOR NEW BRC RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP

Texaco West Indies Limited is the title sponsor of a new Barbados Rally Club (BRC) championship, which will be known as the Texaco BRC Rally Championship. Club chairman Bruce Lambert confirmed the three-year deal at the Club's Annual General Meeting at Kendall Sporting Club on Wednesday night (February 16) to an enthusiastic reception from members.
Raydeen Hunte, brand marketing specialist - Caribbean, of Texaco said: "Texaco's association with the Barbados Rally Club dates back many years and has always been one of mutual benefit. We are very pleased to be renewing this relationship, by backing the Club in the launch of this exciting new championship."
The Texaco BRC Rally Championship becomes the Club’s premier competition; by awarding points for overall success, rather than class position, this new championship will turn the spotlight on those front-running teams with the potential for outright victory and encourage and reward that combination of attack and consistency that is the hallmark of true champions.
It is a compact series, comprising five rounds between March and October, all organised by the BRC. There are three one-day rallies - one loose, and two on tarmac - plus the two days of Rally Barbados 2005, which will count as separate events.
In addition to its title sponsorship of the BRC Rally Championship, Texaco will also sponsor the Sunday Cup on the second day of Rally Barbados.
BRC competition secretary Barry Gale said: "The new format looks set to work from all angles: it has already been well-received by competitors, many of whom were concerned about the steady expansion of the motor sport calendar in recent years, and the attendant cost. Running just five spectator-friendly events should also help concentrate the interest of the fans.
"From the competition point of view, we ran the model of the 2005 scoring system against the equivalent events run by the BRC in 2004 and came up with a close-fought championship; it would have been decided at the final round, with the ‘BRC Rally Champion’ claiming the title by just one point . . . and you can't get much closer than that!", added Gale.
This is the BRC's third major sponsorship announcement this week; on Monday came the news that Virgin Atlantic is to sponsor the BRC Driver's Championship in 2005, while it was confirmed on Wednesday that Barbados Industries Ltd will again back the club's 4 x 4 Navigational Championship under its brand name Ruf 'n' Tuf.

Texaco BRC Rally Championship - qualifying rounds:
Mar 6 Round 1 – BRC Gravel Stage Rally
Apr 17 Round 2 – BRC Tarmac Stage Rally
May 28/29 Rounds 3 & 4 - Rally Barbados 2005
Oct 16 Round 5 – BRC Tarmac Stage Rally
* drivers will count their scores from all rounds

Texaco BRC Rally Championship - points system:
Points will be awarded at each round on the following scale:
1st, 15 points
2nd, 12 points
3rd, 10 points
4th, 9 points
5th, 8 points
6th, 7 points
7th, 6 points
8th, 5 points
9th, 4 points
10th, 3 points
all other finishers, 1 point
All scores will count toward a driver’s year-end total

For further information, robin@bradfax.com