“WATERSHED SEASON” FOR BARBADOS MOTOR SPORT

Circuit race and rally fans in Barbados can look forward to a “watershed season” for their favourite sport in 2014, according to the island’s National Sporting Authority, the Barbados Motoring Federation (BMF) . . . and the months of May and June look set to break all previous records for motor sport’s contribution to the island’s vital sports-tourism product.
In addition to Sol Rally Barbados (May 31/June 1) and the previous weekend’s Scotiabank King of the Hill (May 25), which already inject significant foreign exchange annually into the economy, Top Gear Festival Barbados (May 17/18) will mark the worldwide launch of the re-developed Bushy Park Circuit.
The BMF’s 2014 Calendar, published today (February 11), lists more than 40 events to be organised by the Federation’s sporting Member Clubs between Sunday, February 23, and the penultimate weekend of November. A broad cross-section of motor sport disciplines is covered, from grass-roots autocross and dexterity tests through circuit race meetings for cars and karts, drag racing and off-road 4x4 events to special stage rallies.
BMF President Andrew Mallalieu said: “Since the BMF was founded in 2000, we have worked to achieve a number of key targets: the licensing of competitors, creation of the Training Committee, standardising of vehicle safety regulations, central negotiation of competition insurance and the introduction of a duty free scheme for importation of eligible competition cars and certain components.
“While the journey is not over, 2014 promises be a watershed season, and I believe that the ripples will spread across the Caribbean. After years of diligent work, the vision of a permanent home for island motor sport is about to be realised, aided in the planning stages by the world governing body, the FIA, and the Government of Barbados. Funded by a group of local investors, the redevelopment of Bushy Park got under way last August and its reopening as a world-class facility presents new opportunities for island motor sport, and for the region. I hope that the Red Bull Global Rallycross Championship at Top Gear Festival Barbados is just the first of many international series to be attracted to the facility.
“Off-track, the Barbados Rally Club marks the 25th running of its premier event, Sol Rally Barbados, the region’s biggest annual motor sport international, and I’m told that there will likely be a record number of countries represented in this year’s entry. But it is not just the headline events that matter . . . all our Member Clubs have worked hard to keep pace with fast-developing world of motor sport, particularly on the safety front, and we all look forward to a successful season.”
As the start of the new season draws closer, the BMF Motorsport Training Committee is planning a series of training courses and workshops to be held throughout the year, with a long-term plan of creating a standard format; these sessions will fall into three broad categories - Marshals, Senior Officials and Competitors Safety Training.
BMF Vice-President John Sealy said: “Following the training conducted last year by the UK’s governing body, the Motor Sports Association (MSA), the BMF now has four in-house trainers, who will be responsible for these courses, working under our Training Committee Chairman Warren Gollop.
“We enjoyed an excellent first committee meeting for 2014 last week, at which all persons who were invited attended, including our three regular Stage Commanders, the four trainers and representatives from our sporting Member Clubs, who may be called upon to assist in the co-ordination with their individual members. I was extremely pleased with the turn-out and am very encouraged as we look forward to the new season.”

Editor’s note: affiliated to the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), which rules the sport worldwide, the Barbados Motoring Federation (BMF) is the island’s governing body for motor sport; it also represents the interests of its member Clubs in discussions with Government departments which facilitate the sport in the island, in particular the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, which permits road closures for an agreed number of events each year. Away from motor sport, the BMF affiliate which answers the FIA Mobility remit is the Barbados Automobile Association (BAA), which is an executive committee member of the Government’s Barbados Road Safety Council.