Fans to enjoy live coverage at Shell V-Power King of the Hill

Shell V-Power King of the Hill is the third round of the Virgin Atlantic Airways BRC RallySport Championship and the second round of the BRC Sprint Championship, but will also provide a 'shakedown' for the many overseas competitors who have been arriving in the island over the past few days to take part in the following weekend's Sol Rally Barbados.

All drivers entered for the 'main event' are eligible to compete, but overseas drivers will not be able to take points away from local competitors in the BRC championships; although the number of starters will not be known until Saturday - the signing-on sheet for the event will be available at Scrutineering on Friday - the BRC anticipates an excellent turn-out.

Spectators are advised to proceed down Rock Hall and park in the large designated area at the base of the hill; in addition to parking and the Giant Daylight Screen, there will be refreshment tents and live commentary. Rally Barbados chairman Barry Gale said: "We are asking all spectators to be mindful of those living in the area, and not to park on the road, or to block entrances to residents' homes. This is an exciting new venture for us - although, of course, Turner's Hall has played an important role as a HillSprint venue over the 50 years of the Club's existence - and we want to make it an exciting and enjoyable day out for everyone."

There will be one practice run, followed by three timed runs, the fastest of which will be used to decide the results. During the lunch break after the first official run, 15 prize-winners from a promotion that has been running at Shell outlets in recent weeks will get the 'ride-of-a-lifetime' up the hill with one of the leading competitors. In the afternoon, there will be two further timed runs, with the added twist that the top 10 fastest from the previous runs will be held until the end and run in reverse order.

The scheduled start time is 11.30am and the last runs are expected to be complete by approximately 5.30pm; a prizegiving will follow.

Sol prize draw at scrutineering Friday

The 15 lucky winners of the 'ride-of-a-lifetime' - a run up the Shell V-Power King of the Hill course in the co-driver's seat of one of the event's top competitors - will become known on Friday evening, during Scrutineering at the Sir Garfield Sobers Gymnasium, Wildey, St Michael; the prize draw will start shortly after 5.30pm, during a live broadcast on 98.1 The One, hosted by Deri Bowen.

As last year, Scrutineering will take place in the south-east parking lots of the Gymnasium; while Chief Scrutineer Simon Gillmore and his team will work 'behind closed doors', there will be ample opportunity for fans to mix with local, regional and international competitors.

There will be a display area for cars that have already been scrutineered, refreshment tents, driver interviews and an official welcome for the overseas guests. While the work of scrutineering will start earlier, the main event is expected to last from around 4.00pm until 8.00pm.

Sol Rally Barbados and Shell V-Power King of the Hill are elements of the eighth Barbados Rally Carnival. Each day of Sol Rally Barbados, organised by the Barbados Rally Club, is a separate qualifying round of the BRC Rally Championship. The title sponsor is Sol and associate sponsors and marketing partners are McEnearney Quality, Simpson Motors, Automotive Art, Banks Holdings, DaCosta Mannings Auto Centre, Digicel, Nassco, Consolidated Finance, Virgin Atlantic Airways, Crane & Equipments, Little Switzerland, Armag, the Barbados Hotel & Tourism Association and the Barbados Tourism Authority.

Programme of key events

Friday, May 23 - 4.00pm to approx 8.00pm

Scrutineering at Sir Garfield Sobers Gymnasium, Wildey, St Michael

Saturday, May 24 - 11.30am to approx 6.00pm

Shell V-Power King of the Hill, Turner's Hall, St Andrew

Monday to Friday, May 26 to May 30 - 4.00 to 6.00pm each day

Meet the Drivers at Shell Warrens (Mon-Weds) and Shell Banyans (Thurs-Fri)

Saturday, May 31 - Sol Rally Barbados 2008 - day 1

Start from Simpson Motors, Warrens, St Michael, at 9.30am

Twelve stages at three venues

Sunday, June 1 - Sol Rally Barbados 2008 - day 2

Restart from Bushy Park, St Philip, at 7.30am

Twelve stages at three venues

Shell V-Power SuperSpecial at Bushy Park

Monday, June 2 - approx 3.30pm - Sol Rally Barbados 2008 Prizegiving

The Boatyard, Bay Street, St Michael

For further media information - robin@bradfax.com

Web site - www.rallybarbados.bb