[1]Photo: MudDogs Chairman Warren Gollop (left) shakes on the new sponsorship deal with Mario Williams of WTI
The Barbados Rally Club (BRC) confirmed today (April 11) that Williams Trading Inc is the new title sponsor of its 2011 MudDogs Safari Championship, in a technical partnership, which highlights the capabilities of WTI’s production and creative team. The five-round championship is already under way – it opened with the ARMAG March Safari - and continues this Saturday (April 16) with the Chefette April Safari.
Announcing the new deal, BRC MudDogs Chairman Warren Gollop said: “I am very happy to be working with Mario Williams and the team at Williams Trading Inc for the 2011 season, as we match our shared values in quality products. I would also like to thank Meghan Williams, who has been instrumental in pulling this all together, also for her wonderful work on the trophies for all our 4 x 4 events this year.”
As part of the arrangement, WTI is supplying all finished trophies for MudDogs events, and heavily subsidising their cost. The company, which is not a newcomer to motor sport sponsorship having supported a number of individual competitors, will also be present for the two Mudfest events, details of which are currently being worked on. From now, the WTI logo will feature on MudDogs event shirts and other promotional material for the rest of the season.
Based at the Williams Industrial Park, Edghill, St Thomas, WTI is a manufacturing-based trading company, catering to the finished end of construction; among products it supplies are acrylic counter tops, suspended ceiling tiles, floor and wall tiles, hard wood flooring and commercial and residential carpet.
Gollop added: “We are also currently in discussions with a potential title sponsor for the Novice Championship, too, and I would hope to be able to confirm that within the next week or so.”
Night Practice Safari encouraging for the future
Last Saturday’s (April 9) Night Practice Safari was a successful event, with a significant number of newcomers among the more than 40 individuals who took part . . . all encouraging for the future of the BRC’s MudDogs events.
Renata Roett, who had set the short route with Noel Edwards, reported afterwards: “We had a total of 17 vehicles with 42 competitors and we would like to say ‘Thank You’ to everyone who made it out. Overall, the feedback was that a good time was had by all. I'm glad that everyone enjoyed themselves.
“Over half of the faces I saw were newcomers. This is a good indication that people are interested in the sport, and we hope to offer more practice events to encourage more people to come out and eventually compete in the main events. The practice at night certainly gave competitors a new perspective on the world of 4 x 4 rallying and proved to be more challenging than expected. There were one or two tricks that certainly had people going in circles, but eventually got back on track.”
The event started just before sundown at the Barbados Clay Target Shooting Assocation Club House at Searles, Christ Church, and ran into darkness, covering around 28 kilometres in the Searles, Yorkshire and Small Ridge areas, before returning to the same venue for the finish.
Roett added: “Finally, Noel and myself would also like to thank the people who volunteered their time to marshal. The help was very much appreciated. I was able to use all the points I had intended for marshals to try and keep people on track.”
2011 WTI MudDogs Safari Championship
Qualifying rounds:
Mar 5 - ARMAG March Safari
Apr 16 - Chefette April Safari
May 1 - MudDogs May Day MudFest
Jun 25/26 – Shelbury Construction June Safari
Sep 11 – Regional Fire & Security September Safari
Oct 16 - Nassco October Safari
Nov 6 - MudDogs MudFest
For further media information, robin@bradfax.com
