Barbados Motoring Federation announces revised dates

THE Barbados Motoring Federation (BMF) published a provisional calendar for the rest of 2021 yesterday to allow competitors time to prepare, while discussions continue with Government bodies to clarify when spectators might return. Having made practical use of the down time caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Federation has developed a new website, which was also launched yesterday.

The revised calendar lists 36 events, the first of which ran last Saturday (May 8) at the Vaucluse Raceway. Between the opening round of the BRC Autocross Championship at Bushy Park on Saturday (May 15) and Sunday, December 12, all seven of the island’s organising clubs are intending to run points-scoring events counting towards a 2021 Championship, although some will feature fewer rounds than is customary. The clubs are the Barbados Association of Dragsters & Drifters (BADD); Barbados Auto Racing League (BARL); Barbados Karting Association (BKA); Barbados Rally Club (BRC); Bushy Park Motor Sports Inc. (BPMSI); the Motoring Club of Barbados Inc. (MCBI); and the Vaucluse Raceway Motorsports Club (VRMSC).

BMF Vice-President Mark Hamilton said: “While the coronavirus pandemic means the situation remains very fluid and this calendar is still provisional, we are optimistic that things are easing as government protocols allow more activity. We have worked hard to arrive at a list of dates which allows a fair distribution of events among the clubs.

“We are in regular discussions with Government’s COVID-19 Monitoring Unit at the Ministry of Health and Wellness and hope to meet them soon to clarify what protocols will need to be placed to allow us to welcome spectators to events. Further announcements will be made in due course, but we felt it was important to publish the calendar now to give our competitors time to prepare.”

The BMF’s new web site, which can be found at https://bmf-fia.com/ will grow into a comprehensive source of information on the work of the BMF and the FIA (Federation Internationale de l’Automobile), the world governing body. Section headings include the 2021 BMF Calendar; Sport, with background on the island’s seven organising clubs; and Mobility, an important aspect of the FIA’s work, represented locally by the Barbados Automobile Association. Downloads will include official documents from the BMF, along with those from the FIA, including the International Sporting Code and updates on regulations and safety. There is also a Pay Online section, where competitors can pay their BMF subscriptions, either annually or for individual events, although entry fees and insurance will continue to be paid to organising clubs via Motorsport Services.

Hamilton added: “The investment we have made in the web site is for the benefit of all of the island’s clubs and competitors, whose interests we serve, and will provide a focal point for our activities. While the site is still a work-in-progress and we are fine-tuning some of the detail, I would urge everyone involved in motorsport in Barbados to visit regularly for updates and essential background.”

Barbados Motoring Federation – Revised Provisional Motor Sport Calendar 2021

May 8 – Speed Event (VRMSC) – Vaucluse Raceway

May 15 – Autocross (BRC) – Bushy Park

Jun 5 – Track Day (BRC) – Bushy Park

Jun 6 – Sprint (BRC/MCBI) – Bushy Park

Jun 12 – RallySprint (VRMSC) – Vaucluse Raceway

Jun 20 – Autocross (BRC) – Bushy Park

Jun 26/27 – Navigational Rally (BRC MudDogs) – Islandwide

Jul 4 – Race Meet (BARL) – Bushy Park

Jul 11 – Kart Race Meet (BKA) – Bushy Park

Jul 17 – Autocross (BRC) – Bushy Park

Jul 18 – Sprint (MCBI) – venue to be confirmed

Aug 8 – Kart Race Meet (BKA) – Bushy Park

Aug 14 – Rallycross (VRMSC) – Vaucluse Raceway

Aug 21 – Special Stage Rally (MCBI) – venues to be confirmed

Aug 28/29 – Race Meeting (BPMSI) – Bushy Park

Sep 5 – Drag Racing (BADD) – Bushy Park

Sep 5 – Kart Race Meet (BKA) – Bushy Park

Sep 11 – Navigational Rally (BRC MudDogs) – Islandwide

Sep 19 – Sprint (BRC) – venue to be confirmed

Sep 25/26 – Special Stage Rally (BRC) – Islandwide

Oct 3 – Drag Racing (BADD) – Bushy Park

Oct 3 – Kart Race Meet (BKA) – Bushy Park

Oct 10 – Race Meet (BPMSI) – Bushy Park

Oct 17 – Sprint (VRMSC/MCBI) – venue to be confirmed

Oct 24 – Autocross (BRC) – Bushy Park

Oct 31 – Race Meeting (BARL) – Bushy Park

Nov 6 – Sprint (MCBI) – venue to be confirmed

Nov 7 – Drag Racing (BADD) – Bushy Park

Nov 7 – Kart Race Meet (BKA) – Bushy Park

Nov 14 – Navigational Rally (BRC MudDogs) – Islandwide

Nov 21 – Special Stage Rally (VRMSC) – venues to be confirmed

Nov 27 – RallySprint (VRMSC) – Vaucluse Raceway

Nov 28 – Rallycross (VRMSC) – Vaucluse Raceway

Dec 4 – Sprint (MCBI) – venue to be confirmed

Dec 5 – Special Stage Rally (BRC) – venues to be confirmed

Dec 12 – Autocross (BRC) – Bushy Park

NB: Events are described by the generic names under which they are granted a BMF permit. Organising clubs may apply different titles to their events, for instance to reflect individual sponsorship commitments.

Key to abbreviations:

BADD – Barbados Association of Dragster & Drifters (www.baddmotorsports.com)

BARL – Barbados Auto Racing League (Facebook/BarbadosAutoRacingLeague)

BKA – Barbados Karting Association (Facebook/barbadoskartingassociation)

BPMSI – Bushy Park Motor Sports Inc (Facebook/BPMSInc)

BRC – Barbados Rally Club (www.barbadosrallyclub.com; www.rallybarbados.net; Facebook/BarbadosRallyClub; Facebook/SolRallyBarbados); BRC MudDogs (Facebook/246Muddogs)

MCBI – Motoring Club of Barbados Inc (Facebook/Motoring-Club-Barbados-Inc)

VRMSC – Vaucluse Raceway Motor Sport Club (Facebook/Barbados-Historic-Rally-Carnival; Facebook/BimmaCup