SOL RALLY BARBADOS PRIZES FOR IRISH MARSHALS
LIME is the new King of the Hill title sponsor

The Barbados Rally Club (BRC) is renewing its partnership with the Circuit of Ireland, following the huge success of last year’s collaboration on both sides of the Atlantic. In association with the island’s Tourism Development Corporation (TDC), the BRC is again offering two motor sport volunteers a once-in-a-lifetime chance to enjoy the Caribbean’s biggest annual motor sport international, Sol Rally Barbados (May 29-31).
The prize, described by last year’s winners as “excellent” and “a great experience”, includes return flights from London Gatwick to Barbados on Virgin Atlantic Airways, accommodation and a shared rental car. As well as Sol RB15, the 25th Anniversary of the BRC’s premier event, the trip encompasses Simpson Motors Scrutineering and LIME King of the Hill the previous weekend.
Steve Reeves, who bought a second ticket last year so his wife Pauline could share in the prize, has really caught the Caribbean bug: “The trip was excellent, the atmosphere is superb. It was so good that, shortly after we arrived home, we booked a return trip, another two weeks and staying at the same hotel. We're really looking forward to it!"
Apart from the wider sports-tourism benefits for Barbados, the prizes paid off for Irish marshalling, too. Reeves added: “Before last year's Circuit, the last time that I had marshalled was in the '70s. But, since then, I've marshalled at a lot of events with the British Motorsport Marshals' Club and am now a certified fire marshal. I'm doing all three days at the Circuit this year, and Pauline is going to marshal for the first time."
Fellow-winner Jason Jackson echoed his thoughts: "Sol Rally Barbados was definitely a great experience. Last year’s Circuit was my first time marshalling, but I've marshalled at other events as a result and I'm back at the Circuit again this year."
With a traditional Easter date (April 2-4), ‘The Circuit’ is one of the world’s oldest rallies – it first ran in 1931 - and last year attracted nearly 74,000 spectators; a round of the FIA European Rally Championship (ERC) and the FIA ERC Junior Championship, it also qualifies for the Irish Tarmac and the Northern Ireland Rally Championships.
Eurosport will again broadcast this year’s event, expecting viewership of more than 14 million globally, while British actor Idris Elba (Nelson Mandela in the 2013 film Mandela – Long Walk to Freedom), will attract further worldwide coverage: he is driving in Ireland for a new documentary series, in which he will compete on land, water and in the air, to be broadcast on the Discovery Channel across more than 220 countries.
Barbados Rally Club Chairman Mark Hamilton added: “Our six-year association with the Tourism Development Corporation has helped us to promote our event, and Barbados as a destination, to the rally-mad Irish with tremendous success - we are two islands with rallying at the heart of our culture, so there is a natural fit. Motor sport is the same on both sides of the Atlantic - without our unpaid volunteers, our sport would be lost.”
Circuit of Ireland Event Director Bobby Willis said: “Marshals are the unsung heroes of our sport and give up a huge amount of free time on a voluntary basis to ensure that the Rally runs smoothly and safely. It’s fantastic that our friends in the beautiful island of Barbados have offered this superb prize to our rally.
“We are still looking for marshals for this year's event and urge new and existing marshals to sign up to be in with a chance to win this ‘tropical’ prize; all volunteers over the age of 17 will automatically be entered."

LIME is the new King of the Hill title sponsor

LIME, the leading telecoms provider in Barbados, has significantly stepped up its commitment to the Barbados Rally Club (BRC) - a marketing partner since 2010, LIME is the new title sponsor of King of the Hill (May 24). The final shakedown before Sol Rally Barbados 2015, LIME KotH affords overseas competitors a chance to drive at competition speed on island tarmac, while the results provide the basis for seeding Sol RB15.
Alongside the action at the popular Hangman’s Hill stage in St Thomas, the LIME KotH Party Stage – Powered by LIME / Banks / AA at the Vaucluse Raceway promises fans an experience unrivalled in island motor sport. Collaborating with Automotive Art and Banks Holdings, LIME is planning a full day of activity for all the family, with an unbeatable DJ line-up to keep things lively. Food and drink will be on sale and there will be a VIP area.
Head of Marketing for LIME, Rachel Pilgrim, said: “Year on year, the Barbados Rally Club delivers a product that we are proud to be associated with – once again, the international interest in Sol Rally Barbados is huge, and we intend to keep our overseas visitors and local customers connected via our LIME Live Facebook page and 4G coverage over the two weekends, while enjoying an all-day Caribbean party.”
BRC Chairman Mark Hamilton added: “Our relationship with LIME has developed steadily over the past five years, so I welcome this increased partnership. They are not simply sponsors, but assist with infrastructure and promotion, coming up with new ideas and strategies to help keep the island’s many rally fans informed and engaged.”

Sol Rally Barbados and LIME King of the Hill are organised by the Barbados Rally Club, which was founded in 1957; Sol RB15 marks the 25th Anniversary of the Club’s annual International All-Stage Rally and the eighth 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