One female driver and four female co-drivers are among 23 crews entered for Sunday’s Regional Fire & Security September Safari, round four of the Barbados Rally Club’s (BRC) WTI MudDogs Safari Championship and Chefette MudDogs Safari Novice Championship.
And at the briefing meeting at the Barbados Clay Target Shooting Association (BCTSA) clubhouse, Searles, Christ Church, veteran rallyist and route-setter Biddy Barber said that it’s the first time in more than ten years that a safari had attracted a female driver.
“It is good to see females taking part, especially as a driver, she will be with a good co-driver in her husband Peter and she should enjoy the event,” Barber noted.
Female driver Judy-Ann Bradshaw will team up with her husband, the experienced Peter Bradshaw in the WTI Pro Class, driving a Land Rover Defender, while other females are co-driver Renata Roett who will partner Edson Arthur in a Toyota Hilux, Michelle Oliver who is paired with Sean Mottley in the CIBC FirstCaribbean Int.
Bank Suzuki Vitara, Anna-Maria Dickenson who will drive with Gregory Dickenson in a Toyota Hilux, all entered in the Pro Class and Trina Griffith who is paired with Matthew Durant in the Chefette Novice Class.
The safari will start at 8:01 a.m.; the lunch stop will be at 11:30 a.m. at the ARMAG Vegetable Outlet and the finish at approximately 4:30 p.m at Searles Quarry, where some special driver challenges are planned.
Sunday’s event could be crucial, as crews who participate in all five championship rounds are required to drop their worst score at the end of the season, battles are heating up as eight points cover the leading three competitors. Among the Chefette Novices there’s a ten-point spread across the leading three navigators, while the driver battle is even more intense, with five drivers within ten points.
The route was set by experienced navigational rallyists Biddy Barber and Phillip McConney and rechecked by Biddy’s son Brett, and Graham Proverbs.
“Everyone is up for Sunday’s event. Biddy and Phillip have done a great job with the route, and the weather looks as though it is going to give us a fantastic day.
“Thanks again to Regional Fire & Security for sponsoring this weekend’s event, also to Williams Trading Inc, and Chefette for their long-term support of the Championships,” MudDogs chairman Warren Gollop said.
The prizegiving for the safari will be held once results are declared final, at the BCTSA on Monday
