Sol Rally Barbados is hosted by the Barbados Rally Club, usually held the last weekend in May or the first weekend in June. It is the Caribbean’s biggest annual international motor sport event. Comprised of two weekends with the first being the scrutineering of the cars, where car enthusiasts can look inside the local and international cars. This event is held on the Saturday. On Sunday there is the King of The Hill event where rally fans get to see their favourite drivers perform. This involves one practice and three official timed runs, a shake-down before Sol Rally Barbados.
Photo Credits: John McKay
The first overseas competitors took part in the International All-Stage Rally in the early 1990s. The event has played host to more than 350 drivers and co-drivers representing nearly 30 countries, including six from the wider Caribbean, with Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago providing the best support. The biggest competitor base is the UK and Ireland, but the event has attracted competitors from as far afield as Australia, Canada, Japan, Kenya, South Africa and the United States, as well as mainland Europe.
A key player in the country’s sports-tourism product, Sol Rally Barbados contributes nearly BDS$4 million to the island’s economy each year, much of it in vital foreign exchange, and accounts for approximately 4,000 visitors at a traditionally quiet time in the tourism calendar.
This year’s rally event is May 30 to June 1, 2014. The reigning champion of the last two years Paul Bird from England is looking to come and make his hat- trick win!
For more information on the stages for this year’s Sol Rally Barbados and other news you can visit www.rallybarbados.bb
