[1]Sol Rally Barbados winner for the past two years, Jamaica’s Jeffrey Panton (Ford Focus WRC06), tops the entry for Sunday’s (May 28) Flow King of the Hill, the final shakedown ahead of the Caribbean’s biggest annual motor sport International, Sol RB17 (June 2-4). The provisional running order published today (May 26) lists 89 starters – the second-biggest field in the event’s 10-year history – with the pressure on from the get-go, as all four runs will count toward the result for the first time.
Panton shared the crown last year with former double European Rally Champion Simon Jean-Joseph (Focus WRC08) after a mid-afternoon rain shower rendered the final run irrelevant to the results; Welsh WRC driver Elfyn Evans (Ford Fiesta R5 Evo) finished third, ahead of the Subaru Impreza WRC S12Bs of regular British visitor Rob Swann and 13-time winner of the Barbados Rally Club’s (BRC) premier event, local legend Roger Skeete. By going on to win his second consecutive Sol Rally Barbados in 2016, Panton also became the third driver to win both King of the Hill and Rally Barbados in the same year, after Skeete in 2011 and Britain’s Paul Bird (Focus WRC08) in 2012.
This is only the fourth time since the inaugural KotH in 2008 that there have been more than 80 starters, with 91 in 2012 the record, so a spectacular day of motor sport is anticipated. Only four Sol RB17 entries are missing: British Ford Escort drivers Raymond Clough (MkI) and Pete Rayner (MkII) will not arrive in the island until next week, while newcomer Gerry Pennell’s recently rebuilt ex-works MkI Escort developed an engine problem mid-week. In addition, local drivers John Foster (Daihatsu Charmant) and Andrew Mallalieu (Subaru Impreza N10) will not be seen until Sol RB17 weekend.
Sol RB17 and BRC Chairman Mark Hamilton said: “The quality and quantity of this year’s entry, particularly in a prolonged period of financial uncertainty worldwide, is a huge endorsement of what the Barbados Rally Club has been working toward in recent years, with the invaluable support of our partners in the private and public sectors. It also speaks to the professional running of the event, which would not be possible without the work of our hundreds of volunteers.
“I am pleased to say we have 30 new participants this year, but our repeat visitors are equally as important: between them, Martin Stockdale, Kenny Hall, Andrew Costin-Hurley and Kevin Procter will this year bring to 58 the number of times they have competed in Barbados. Outside of the pressures of competing year-round in a national or regional championship, that level of loyalty is simply unheard-of. I thank everyone who helps our Club make this event so special.”
As it has for the past three years, Flow KotH will run from Hangman’s Hill through the Vaucluse Raceway (VRW) then north to Lion Castle, all within the parish of St Thomas, for a total stage length of 4.3 kilometres. Cars will run in reverse order of seeding, from Clubman 1 up to WRC-1, and the top 10 at the lunch break will be held back and re-seeded in reverse order to run at the end of the field for the final two runs.
The first run is slated for 10.00am, with two each before and after the lunch break, the fastest of which will decide competitors’ finishing positions. The results of Flow KotH will be used to seed Sol RB17, while those drivers who have not competed will be seeded behind the last car in their class, unless safety considerations dictate otherwise.
From the first KotH at Turner’s Hall in 2008, local drivers Paul Bourne (‘08 & ’10) and Skeete (’09 & ’11) shared the first four victories, as it moved first to Stewart’s Hill, then Sailor Gully and Hangman’s Hill. England’s Paul Bird won back at Hangman’s Hill in 2012, and again in 2014, after Neil Armstrong won in 2013, when the venue was Luke Hill in St Lucy. Skeete became the first driver to claim three wins in 2015, while a rain-affected final run last year was partly to blame for Panton and Simon Jean-Joseph ending the day in an unprecedented tie for victory.
Highest-placed two-wheel-drive car for the first three years was the legendary Simpson Motors Suzuki Swift, with Sean Gill sixth in his last season in the car (2008), then Ian Warren ninth and fifth, which remains the highest overall KotH finish for 2wd. Armstrong was top 2wd in 2011 & ’12, ninth and eighth, the mantle then assumed by Roger Mayers, sixth and eighth respectively in 2013 & ’14. Josh Read then joined the roll of honour, seventh and sixth in 2015 & ’16, last year leading home Mayers, Dane Skeete, Rhett Watson and Andrew Jones, as 2wd cars packed the lower half of the top 10.
Sol Rally Barbados (June 2-4) and Flow King of the Hill (May 28) are organised and promoted by the Barbados Rally Club, which celebrates its 60th Anniversary in 2017; title sponsors are the Sol Group and Flow. Marketing partners are Simpson Motors, Automotive Art and Banks; official partners are Accra Beach Hotel & Spa, the Barbados Hotel & Tourism Association, Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc, Geest Line and the Tourism Development Corporation; associate sponsors are Chefette and Stoute’s Car Rental.
FLOW KING OF THE HILL 2017 Provisional running order at May 26
Key to nationalities (competitor from Barbados unless shown): CDN – Canada; ENG – England; FRA – France; GUY – Guyana; IRL – Republic of Ireland; JAM – Jamaica; JER – Jersey; MTQ – Martinique; NED – The Netherlands; NIR – Northern Ireland; NZL – New Zealand; SCO – Scotland; T&T – Trinidad & Tobago; TCI – Turks & Caicos; USA – United States of America; WAL – Wales
no driver/co-driver (class/sponsors/car)
1 Jonathan Ince/Bradley Weekes (SM3 Ocean Fisheries/RB’s Rotisserie/Lenovo/Brake Pro/Studio5 Creative BMW M3)
2 Shon Cummins/Jason Tull (C1 BMW 316)
3 Fabien Clarke/Arlington Hoyte (C1 RCR Tours/Bovell Auto Repair Suzuki Ignis Sport)
4 Peter Gallagher – IRL/Rene Forde (C1 Dublin Crystal Peugeot 206XSi)
5 Kevin-Jon Manning/Tammy Lashley (C1 KY Brand/Bajan Love Shop/Tint Plus/Flat 4's Barbados/Performance Imports Peugeot 106 Rallye)
6 Randy Reid/Romario Reid (C1 School Boy Sound System/Bird’s Wrecker Service Toyota Starlet)
7 Martin Taylor - IRL/Janet Taylor - IRL (C1 Dublin Crystal Gifts and Awards Proton Satria)
8 Trevor Mapp/Allister Nurse (C1 Sign Station/JSB Motorsport/Chicken Pen Racing/AS Autostop/Valvoline Mitsubishi Colt Mivec RS)
9 Allan Kinch/Allan Maynard (C2 Jolly Roger/Pirate’s Cove BMW 318ti Compact)
10 Brandon Smith - WAL/Dylan Thomas - WAL (C1 BCS Auto Repairs/D Thomas Flooring/KWS Executive Travel Volkswagen Polo)
11 Joe Troulan - ENG/Marilil Troulan (C2 Barbados Villa Services/Tru Barbados/Seareinas BMW 318ti Compact)
12 Stuart Garcia/Rasheed Smith (C2 Intelligent Defence Systems/Smiths Engineering Works/Four & Twenty Bakery/Tropical Sunset/Zaccios BMW 318ti Compact)
14 Derek Edwards/Damien Johnson (C2 D & A Mechanical Services/Arrow Construction BMW 318ti Compact)
15 James Thomson - SCO/Shaun Douglas – SCO (M Walker Groundworks/Halltune Rallysport Vauxhall Nova)
16 Calvin Briggs/Ryan Wood (GpB2 Massy Realty/Lucas Oils/Keisha's Cheesecakes Ford Sierra)
17 David Proud - NZL/Anita Campbell - NZL (M2 Window Factory Peugeot 206 GTi 180)
18 Robin Hamilton – SCO/Vanessa Hamilton – SCO (H1 Robin Hamilton Autos Talbot Sunbeam)
19 Paul Rees - WAL/Stuart Leach - ENG (M2 Coconut Court Beach Hotel Barbados/Vauxcare/DSB Race Engines Vauxhall Astra GTE)
20 John Corbin/Owen Proverbs (H2 Automotive Art/Pro Sales Toyota Corolla)
21 Bev LeGood – ENG/Chris Shooter - ENG (H2 Sparrow Hill Cars Ford Escort MkII)
22 Pierre Beswick – TCI/Leslie Evanson (M1 Horizon Construction/Hartling Luxury Resorts/H Racing/Sky Motorsports Citroen C2 R2 MAX)
23 Pascal Calvel – MTQ/Francoise Devin – FRA (M1 Sodiva/Pneus Cash Tire/Tilo/ABC Depannage/CGFF/SMD Citroen C2 R2 MAX)
24 Jermin Pope/Aaron Kirton (C1 Good Time Snacks/Uniform Factory Outlet/Glassesco/NKM Clothing/Bio Beauty Honda Civic)
25 Paul Inniss/Pierre Clarke (M1 Durex Barbados/Brydens Insurance/East Point Grill/Auto Derm/Hugh Autobody/K-Tech Auto/Chicken Stop/Tint Plus/Caribbean Villa Chefs/JJ Racing Team Honda Civic)
26 Winston Thompson/Damian Castillo-Marshall (SM1 SDRR Hydraulics & Industrial Spares/BCR Inc Car Rental/Ellesmere Quarries/Chicken Pen Racing Toyota Starlet)
27 Orry Hunte/Chris Haywood (M2 Phoenix Protection Services/Crane & Equipment Mitsubishi Lancer)
28 Richard Seal – ENG/Bruce Yeomans - ENG (GpB1 Ford Escort MkI)
29 Andrew Costin-Hurley - ENG/Emma Morrison – ENG (GpB2 Cygnet Plant Ltd/Earl’s Performance Hoses/Wootton Tyres Ford Puma Evo)
30 Clifford Cox/Scott Bentham (SM1 Hilti/Snorkel/Williams Equipment/JLG Reaching Out/MQ Multiquip/Yanmar/Hankook Toyota Starlet)
31 Dominic Linton/Adrian Linton (M2 Ravensden/JAD Performance Vauxhall Astra SRi)
32 Jeremy Sisnett/Justin Sisnett (M2 The Tiki Bar/Indoor Plant Services Ford Fiesta ST150)
33 Philip Moe/Adrian Gittens (SM1 Sunbay Hotel/Mark’s Auto Spares/Bajan Motors Toyota Corolla)
34 Craig Marshall - NZL/Andrew Smith - NZL (SM1 Window Factory/Dataspares Peugeot 106 Maxi)
35 Andy Scott - SCO/Rashid Phillips (M2 Rock Oil/Motis/Albatec Racing Ford Escort MkI)
36 Edward Corbin/Rodney Clarke (M1 Automotive Art/Hilti Daihatsu Charmant)
37 Wayne Archer/Tristan Gibbs (H2 Archers Hall Design Centre/RW Water/Arrow Woodworking/Arrow Construction/D & A Mechanical Services BMW 325)
38 Frans Verbaas - NED/Kees Hagman - NED (GpB2 Verbaas Preparations/Koni Rover Mini Cooper)
39 Chris Ullyett/Chantal Ullyett - CDN (SM3 Proj-Rx Inc/Ullyett's Machine Shop BMW M3)
40 Jonathan Still/Heath Hazell (GpB1 Sharkey's Bar/Suga Apple/Castrol/Quality Tyre/Markham Construction BMW M3)
41 Stuart Austin – ENG/Steve McNulty - ENG (WRC-1 Accra Beach Spa and Hotel/Austin Powell Ltd/SA Property Services Subaru Impreza)
42 George Sherman - USA/Anthony Sherman - USA (GpN Subway/Zanzibar/Kaizan Sushi Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX)
43 Antony Pownall – ENG/Rikki Proffitt - WAL (GpN Sparrow Hill Cars Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX)
44 Kevin Flanagan – IRL/Dominic Adams - WAL (SM1 Flanagan Services Mini Cooper S)
45 Norman Catwell/Kyle Catwell (M2 Chicken Pen Racing/John Hardman Engineering/Elite Transmissions/Mel Williams Tyres/Face Of Fitness 246 Volkswagen Golf GTI)
46 Greg Cozier/Natasha Farnum (H2 Barbados Historic Rally Carnival/Geest Line/Jondel Race Engines/Rally and Competition Equipment Ford Escort RS)
47 Paul Horton - TCI/Dwayne Forde (M2 Turks Head Brewery/Java Island/Sky Motorsports/H Racing Citroen DS 3 R3 MAX)
48 Kenny Hall - SCO/Fenny Wesselink – NED (M1 Halltune Garage/F & Co Hair Stylists/The Sporting Pig Sports Bar & Restaurant/Time Out Hotel Ford Puma S1600)
49 David St Hill/Ian Grimes (SM3 St Hill & Sons Garage BMW M3)
50 Kurt Thompson/Adam Straker (M2 Glassesco/NKM Clothing/Bio-Beauty Day Spa Honda Civic)
51 Steve Finch - ENG/Stanley Graham - ENG (SM2 Ford Escort MkII)
52 Allan Mackay – SCO/Andrew Croney (SM2 Beatson’s Building Supplies Ford Anglia WRC)
53 Andrew Hockridge – WAL/Aled Edwards - WAL (M2 GRH Food Company Ltd Citroen DS 3 R3 MAX)
54 Stuart McChlery/Julian Goddard (SM2 Lubriguard/Gunk Ford Escort MkI)
55 Sammy Cumberbatch/Jan-Yves Hinds (SM3 Williams Industries/Castrol/Hilti/SC Auto Mechanics BMW M3)
56 Stan Hartling - TCI/Andy Proudfoot – CDN (SM3 Bambarra Rum/H Racing BMW M3)
57 Martin Stockdale - ENG/Stephen Peat – ENG (SM3 Divi Southwinds Beach Resort/Drive-a-Matic/Canems Engine Management/Quarry Motors BMW 1M Coupe)
58 Fraser Louden – SCO/Abi Louden - SCO (WRC-1 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX)
59 Jonathan Trenholme – ENG/Alison Trenholme – ENG (GpA JAT Motorsport Subaru Impreza)
60 Jeremy Gonsalves/Rommell Martin (SM1 Sign Depot/Makita/Star Products/Yamaha/Guava Tech/John Hardman Engineering/Valvoline Opel Corsa)
61 Dick Mauger – ENG/Gino Gouveia - JER (WRC-1 Major Farm Services Subaru Impreza)
62 Barry Groundwater – SCO/Ashleigh Will - SCO (WRC-1 Groundwater Lift Trucks/AMS Motorsport Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X)
63 Rupert Lomax – WAL/David Alcock - WAL (GpA DigIt Plant Hire/SMS Motorsport/GMC Concrete/Lee Almond Racing Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII)
64 Ryan Pinheiro – T&T/Ross Vieira – T&T (GpA Lange Trinidad Limited/Gulf Oil/Exedy Clutches Mitsubishi Lancer Evo V)
65 Jamal Brathwaite/Dario Hoyte (M2 Platinum Motors Collision Repair/Valvoline/Automotive Art/Consumers Guarantee Insurance/JSB Motorsport/Ellesmere Quarries/Chicken Pen Racing/Pirelli Honda Civic Type-R)
66 Neil Corbin/Matthew Staffner (SM1 Nassco/H Jason Jones/Emtage Electric/BG Products & Services/Auto Solutions/Valvoline/Sun General Insurance/Maxmeyer Paints Toyota Starlet)
67 Andrew Skeete/Bradley Weekes (SM3 Ocean Fisheries/RB’s Rotisserie/Lenovo/Brake Pro/Studio5 Creative BMW M3)
68 David Coelho – TRI/James Harris – ENG (GpA Subway/Zanzibar/Kaizan Sushi Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX)
69 Logan Watson/Brian Gibson (SM3 Subzero Services Ltd/McEnearney Quality Inc/Sign Depot/The Unknown Entity/eCarib Classifieds in support of The Little Pink Gift Foundation BMW M3)
70 Joe McQuillan – NIR/Sean Donnelly - SCO (WRC-2 Masserene Park Farms Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX)
71 Mark Kinch/Andrew Peirce (SM3 Inogro/Carters/PEG BMW M3)
72 Justin Campbell/Juan Watts (SM3 Republic Bank/Five Star Fast Track/Hilton Barbados Resort/Dream Solutions/Automotive Art/Hilti/#RAY/Campbell Racing Team BMW M3)
73 Daryl Clarke/Russell Brancker (M2 Flow/Automotive Art/Amir’s Chicken/MQI Collision Repair/Valvoline/eCarib Classifieds Honda Civic)
74 Mark Thompson/Kurt Seabra - GUY (GpN Automotive Art/Stag Beer/Glassesco/NKM/Bio Beauty/SLAM 101.1FM Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX)
75 Avinash Chatrani/Eric Allamby (GpA Lenovo/PowerBass/Gunk/iShop/Genius Lynk/Copacabana Beach Club Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI)
76 Andrew Jones/Lindsey Pilkington – ENG (SM3 Lucozade/Caribbean Powder Coating/AP Jones Pharmacy/Southern Surf Beach Apartments Ford Escort MkII)
77 Rhett Watson/James Hutchinson (SM3 Chefette/Power King Batteries/Gliptone/Stihl/Gunk/The Unknown Entity in support of Little Pink Gift BMW M3)
78 Brian Watson – SCO/Caroline Will - SCO (WRC-2 Mitsubishi WRC Replica)
79 Nigel Worswick – ENG/Rebecca Kirsch - ENG (WRC-2 Worswick Engineering/Rallytech Composites Ford Escort WRC)
80 Barry Mayers/Ben Norris (SM2 Chefette/Rubis/Digicel/DHL/Hankook/Illusion Graphics Ford Fiesta)
81 Josh Read/Mark Jordan (SM2 Sprite/Hankook/Chutney’s/Urban Kitchen/Weetabix/Nassco/Flow/eCarib Classifieds/Cell Hut Toyota Starlet)
82 Roger Hill/Graham Gittens (WRC-2 Esso/Nassco/MaxMeyer/MotorMac/Pennzoil Toyota Corolla WRC)
83 Dane Skeete/Tyler Mayhew (SM2 Sol/Flow/Automotive Art/Williams Trading Inc Peugeot 306 Maxi)
84 Roger Duckworth - ENG/Mark Broomfield - ENG (WRC-2 Intrinsys Subaru Impreza WRC S6)
85 Graham Coffey – ENG/Patrick Walsh - WAL (WRC-1 Coffey & Co Solicitors Subaru Impreza WRC S12B)
86 Roger Mayers/Sean Corbin (SM2 Chefette/Rubis/Digicel/DHL/Hankook/Illusion Graphics WR Starlet)
87 Kevin Procter – ENG/Andrew Roughead - ENG (WRC-1 Procters Coaches Ford Fiesta)
88 Rob Swann – ENG/Darren Garrod - WAL (WRC-1 Elegant Hotels/Blue Sky Luxury/Cygnet Plant Subaru Impreza WRC S12B)
89 Roger Skeete/Louis Venezia (WRC-1 Sol/Flow/Automotive Art/Simpson Motors/WTI Subaru Impreza WRC S12B)
90 Jeffrey Panton – JAM/Michael Fennell Jnr – JAM (WRC-1 Rubis/Sandals Barbados/KIG Ford Focus WRC06)
