Barbados has pushed the envelope in motorsport and yesterday Roger “The Sheriff” Skeete ensured there was new law and order in the 2014 edition of the Sol Rally Barbados – even in the presence of an out-of-town “posse”.
British High Commissioner Victoria Dean was among hundreds at Vaucluse, St Thomas, to see the premier rally event in the country and, according to media liaison Robin Bradford, motorsport fans never had it so good with Rally Barbados following the Top Gear Festival.
Bradford, who provided compelling commentary throughout the day at Vaucluse, one of the several stage points, said: “I don’t think, to be perfectly honest, that you will find any country in the Caribbean that has seen motorsport at this level concentrated in such a short space of time. It is not chance; Barbados has made its luck.
“The Top Gear Festival did not come here by chance. Barbados worked towards that. It hasn’t got a redeveloped Bushy Park by chance. Barbadian businessmen and Government worked together and created that.
“Sol Rally Barbados hasn’t happened by chance either. It has been an enormous amount of effort over the years. Barbados deserves all of this,” he said on a day when leader Paul Bird, chasing a three-peat, crashed out in the closing session and handed Skeete, 59, the lead.
As always, there were a few hiccups, with some drivers experiencing technical issues.
“Eddie Corbin has had an accident, which is very rare for him. He is fine. Chris Ullyett had an incident. Again, driver and co-driver are okay, but just some minor delays caused by that,” he said.
Bradford acknowledged that the field was slightly smaller this year when compared with last season.
“We have had over 80 starters this time compared with over 90 last year and that means the whole train of cars is that bit shorter so if there is a minor problem, it is easier to deal with it,” he said.
Dean, who took over as British High Commissioner here last November, brought out her entire family – husband Marcus and children Leo and Abigail – for her first rally outing in Barbados.
“I am no rally expert but the atmosphere is fabulous. My driver Roger is trying to teach me about what is happening. It’s a family event and it is nice to be part of it and I think Sol is doing a great job in sponsoring it,” she added.
Brand communications and external affairs manager Gina Cummins described the event as a “big-ticket item for tourism” and was delighted with the turnout.
“There has been tremendous hype for motorsport over the past few weeks and we are happy that Sol Rally Barbados is very much a part of it.
“No two ways about it, Sol Rally has been a success and we at Sol are happy about that,” Cummins said.
