Sporting Days SOL RALLY BARBADOS
Photo by Himal Reece
Photo by Himal Reece
92
Different fans have different favourite drivers, and disputes over their respective talents are rarely conducted in hushed tones. Certain cars don’t even have to come into view before that buzz rises to a crescendo, as fans recognise their favourites by engine note alone . . . and visitors will soon become part of all this, as local fans are as interested in the overseas crews as in the home-grown, which all adds to the unique flavour! Lion Castle rests on a hill in St Thomas, one of only two parishes without a coastline, but the West Coast and Caribbean Sea provide the backdrop, along with classic tropical scenery of waving palms, fields of sugar cane and picturesque villages. The cross-roads has an off-set layout that allowed the BRC route-setters to bring the cars through twice on each of the four runs planned for the day . . . with 99 starters, a record in the 23-year history of the event, that meant spectators would be treated to well over 300 snap-shots of rallying action over a period of seven or so hours, even allowing for some attrition during the day. In past years, movement of spectators between stages had compromised the smooth-running of the event, something the Club has worked to eradicate, and with significant success. By creating focal points on each day of Sol RB12, there was less crowd movement than ever before, with fans happy to settle on Saturday, secure in the knowledge that there would be a similar opportunity on the other side of the island on Sunday. It is a pattern the Club intends to repeat in the future.