Day and night rally action at Bushy Park Saturday
The Motoring Club Barbados Inc (MCBI) breaks new ground on Saturday (September 14) when six special stages of its premier event, the Rally of the Sun & Stars, are scheduled to pass through Bushy Park Barbados. With three runs in daylight, then three under the facility’s all-arena lighting and the entry list heading towards 40 early in the week, island fans are anticipating some thrilling action.
Previously, the Golden Grove to Padmore Village stage passed around the triangle to the south of the facility, but the new layout significantly extends the distance. In daylight, cars will enter through the Pit Gate, tackle a twisty and technical 2.3-kilometre route passing over and under the Rallycross Bridge then exit through the VVIP Gate opposite the road to Padmore. The 7.3km route is then reversed under floodlights.
The first daylight stage is scheduled for 2.30pm, with the second and third each following the previous after roughly an hour; the Dinner Halt is slated for 5.20pm, with the first floodlit stage starting at 7.25pm and the second and third again following at hourly intervals. The rally is anticipated to finish by around 10.30pm.
MCBI President David Williams says: “This is the first time we have run a stage passing through the circuit, so we’re breaking new ground for us, and we believe also for Bushy Park. With six stages to watch, we hope fans will get settled up on The Hill for the afternoon and evening, take their families, coolers, picnic baskets and enjoy the action.”
Spectator access will be from the north off Gaskin Road, only through Gate 4, for vehicle access to the 4x4 Zones and pedestrian access for the grounds and Clubhouse; after the road closure comes into force at 1.00pm, there will be no vehicular access from Six Roads in the south, so patrons will need to approach Bushy Park from the northern side of the venue via Oughterson and Highway M for the rest of the day.
Food & Beverage outlets on the Hill will include Danny Burger, Mobile Eats, Santia’s Popcorn and Vincent’s Sno-cones. Live commentary will keep patrons up to speed with the on-track action, also developments at the other stage, a 4.3km run from Pool to Society in St John in daylight and in reverse after nightfall. Admission including the Clubhouse will be Bds $20, with children 12 and under free.
With six of 12 rounds run, the 2024 MCBI Championship is finely poised: of the nearly 50 drivers who have scored so far this year, reigning champion Tremaine Forde-Catwell (Daihatsu Charade) leads Chris Hoad (BimmaCup) in the overall standings by three points, with 2022 champion Sean Corbin (BMW 318ti) a further three back. The event is also round six of the Barbados Rally2 Championship, administered by the Barbados Motoring Federation (BMF) and sponsored by CIBC Caribbean and Ace H & B Hardware, currently being led by Josh Read (Ford Fiesta R5), himself a former MCBI Champion Driver, having won the title in 2013 & ’16 in a Toyota Starlet.
For media information only. No regulatory value
For more information on Bushy Park Barbados:
www.bushyparkbarbados.com
Facebook.com/BushyParkBarbados
www.instagram.com/bushypark_barbados/