When Scotland’s Allan Mackay returns to Sol Rally Barbados with his Ford Anglia WRC for his fifth visit in 2014, he will be back in what he describes as his rallying “home”. His flamboyant antics have won the hearts and minds of island fans, the fun delivered in double measure in 2013, when son Euan entered alongside him in the Anglia JWRC.
The Mackays were quick to act when entries for the Caribbean's biggest annual motor sport international opened on the official web site - www.rallybarbados.net – last month; they are among nearly 20 overseas entries received so far, of which four are newcomers to the event. As last year, the first 30 International entries received will benefit from the event’s programme of subsidies, which also includes loyalty discounts for repeat visitors.
At Sol RB14, the Barbados Rally Club (BRC) will celebrate the 25th running of its blue riband event. Subject to final ratification by the island’s governing body, the Barbados Motoring Federation (BMF), it will run on Saturday and Sunday, May 31/June 1, with Scrutineering and Scotiabank King of the Hill the previous weekend, May 24/25.
Mackay Snr was among a number of regular International competitors interviewed in a programme produced by Merville Lynch Productions and aired in August on the island’s television station, CBC, which sought to discover what brings repeat visitors back so frequently. The Scotsman’s take was clear and simple: “We’re clubman racers, we always will be, and back in the UK, its not that we’re not respected, but there just seems to be an attitude problem, and it seems never-ending. I’ve said it this year, and I don’t want to exaggerate, but I do feel, as far as rallying goes, I’m home . . . this is it.”
Despite a combined age of more than 100, the two Anglia 105Es - both are entered in SuperModified 10 - are among the most popular visitors to the island, providing more than enough sideways action to keep fans entertained. After retiring with bent steering on his first visit in 2010, former Scottish Tarmac Champion Allan has claimed three finishes, the best 29th overall in 2011, fourth in SM10. Once again, his co-driver will be Ireland’s ‘Mad Mo’ Downey.
After some overheating problems at Scotiabank King of the Hill, Euan brought the Anglia JWRC home 49th and seventh in SM10 in Sol RB13. He will have a new co-driver for 2014, 21-year-old Rory Fraser – as Euan explains: “ He has only ever navigated once before . . . and we won the class at the Crail Summer Stages two days after getting back from supporting Dad in Barbados in 2012!”
Since Sol RB13, the Mackays have enjoyed themselves. Euan reports: “Shortly after both cars came home from Barbados, we took part in Rally Hebrides in Stornoway. It’s a charity event for Macmillan Cancer Support and we raised more than £20,000, which was brilliant.”
Euan also returned to compete on the Tunnocks Mull Rally three weeks ago (October 11-13), where he had rolled end-over-end on the final stage last year, the accident and subsequent fire completely destroying his Peugeot, ‘Snowball’, which had been driven to many class wins in Scotland. Equipped with a new Peugeot 106, however, he completed the task, finishing 21st overall and winning his class by 51secs.
Before they return to the Caribbean, both Anglias will undergo a checkover at the Mackay Motorsport garage. Euan added: “My car needs to go get painted. I think it got sunburn at Rally Barbados. The WRC looks a bit different at the moment, too, as it had a full wrap in Tunnocks Teacakes design as it recently carried out Zero Car duties at Mull.”
Updated FAQ document posted on web site
The Barbados Rally Club has posted an updated version of the Sol Rally Barbados FAQ document on the official web site – www.rallybarbados.net; available as a pdf download, it is prominently sited on the home page, as well as on the Competitor Noticeboard. Among the topics covered are travel arrangements, accommodation and car rental for competitors, shipping and safe storage of their vehicles, fuel regulations and an outline of the schedule of activities.
Sol Rally Barbados and Scotiabank King of the Hill are organised by the Barbados Rally Club, which celebrated its 55th Anniversary in 2012; Sol RB14 is the 25th running of the Club’s annual International All-Stage Rally and marks the seventh year of title sponsorship by the Sol Group, the Caribbean’s largest independent oil company.
For media information only. No regulatory value.
For further media information: e-mail - robin@bradfax.com
web sites: www.rallybarbados.net; www.barbadosrallyclub.com