Huge interest in Rally Barbados

BCIC Rally Barbados 2025 is attracting unprecedented levels of interest, with provisional on-line entries passing the 100 mark this week – two months earlier than last year.

 

And after last year’s event broke a handful of records, including the number of starters (100) and finishers (67), organisers are already looking forward to another bumper year when the action rolls off from May 30 to June 1 in the Caribbean’s biggest motorsport international.

 

“I’m told I shouldn’t be but I am a bit surprised to see the entry total where it currently is,” Event Director Neil Barnard said.

 

“It’s testament to a whole lot of hard work both in terms of the planning and execution of the event and its promotion and marketing that we’re at this point. There are a lot of people to thank for that.

 

“However, I have to single out a few key partners – our title sponsor BCIC and of course Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc and the Tourism Development Corporation. The BTMI continue to be an invaluable promotion and marketing partner and the TDC’s continued support has been essential.”

 

Prominent among the growing list of new or returning local drivers is former kart racer Nigel Reece, who enjoyed some class wins and podiums with father David co-driving his Ford Escort MkI; their last outing in RB12 ended in retirement with diff failure.

 

He is the new owner of the SuperModified 2 Toyota Starlet in which former Barbados Rally Club (BRC) champion driver and two-time 2wd Champion Josh Read finished in the top 10 on the BRC’s premier event four times.

 

Reece has experience as both driver and co-driver and, over the past decade away from competition, as a volunteer official, notably as Clerk of the Course at Bushy Park Motor Sports Inc (BPMSI) race meetings and, currently, Chief Steward for the Barbados Karting Association (BKA).

 

As co-driver to Geoff Noel, he claimed two Group N wins in island events in 2013 and finished 17th overall in RB13, second in GpN, before winning GpN in the 2014 Valvoline Rally with Andrew Mallalieu.

 

“Motorsport has always been in my blood, but after more than 12 years away, the timing just felt right. I’ve focused on my family, my career, and building my life – now it’s time to get back to what I love,” Reece said of his return to driving.

 

“The Starlet is an icon in local rallying, and this one has a proven track record. It’s well-built, well-sorted, and the perfect machine to get me back up to speed. Right now, it’s about getting comfortable in the car, shaking off the rust, and enjoying the process.

 

“I’m competitive, but I also love entertaining the fans – that’s what makes rallying so special. I’m currently working on bringing corporate sponsors on board to represent their brands, and once that’s in place, the plan is to be on the start line and back in the mix.”

 

Read now campaigns a Ford Fiesta R5. After enjoying a final spin in the Starlet at Bushy Park before handing it over to Reece, he said: “The time was right to sell it, while there was still a need or demand for something like that. It’s a good car, it has certainly served me well, and it’s a good platform for Nigel continue his rallying career. I wish him all the best with it and look forward to seeing how he can adapt to it.”

 

Reece’s opposition among the many fan favourites in the high-profile SM2 class will include the reigning class and overall 2wd champion Rhett Watson (BMW M3), former class champions Barry and Roger Mayers, driving Ford Fiesta and Toyota WR Starlet respectively, Andrew Jones (Ford Escort MkII) and Calvin Briggs, who moved across from Group B last year with his Ford Sierra.

 

The Auto & Rally Show, where every car entered is on display in an annual celebration of island rallying, and the final shakedown and seeding event – First Citizens King of the Hill – will occupy the preceding weekend (May 24-25).

(Rally Barbados is a tarmac rally, with around 20 special stages run on the island’s intricate network of public roads, under road closure orders granted by the Ministry of Transport & Works; the previous Sunday’s King of the Hill ‘shakedown’, run under a similar arrangement, features four timed runs on a roughly four-kilometre stage, the results of which are used to seed the running order for the main event.)