Barbados Tourism Authority to co host Rally Show

With Rallye Sunseeker, the opening round of the 2012 British Rally Championship, fast approaching, the latest news is that Barbados Tourism Authority has joined forces with the event to Co-Host the Scrutiny and Documentation Show held at the Bournemouth International Centre on Friday 24th February.

The Show will open to the public, and be held in the Purbeck Hall and will offer spectators the chance to see the Drivers and Cars who will compete on this year’s event up close. The Show will begin at 10.00am.

Speaking to Rallye Sunseeker Petra Roach, Barbados Tourism Authority’s vice president of marketing and sales commented: “we jumped at the opportunity to co-host the Scrutiny and Documentation event at Bournemouth International Centre as we want to show all that our fabulous island has to offer motorsports fans and lovers of the good life.  We intend to bring a slice of Barbados to the BIC so that fans can stop by and understand why people come back to Barbados again and again - once you’ve tasted paradise, nothing else tastes as divine! ”

Scrutiny in previous years has always attracted lots of spectators and the use of the Purbeck Hall will be of massive benefit to all those who attend this year’s event, as Screens2Go will have their large TV screen in the hall to provide rally features and interviews.

Rallye Sunseeker caught up with Steve Piper, Head of Venues for BH Live which is the Leisure and Cultural Trust that manages the centre and he told us “We are delighted to be welcoming the Rallye Sunseeker scrutiny team and participants to the Bournemouth International Centre. This is a really exciting event for everyone involved and demonstrates BH Live’s capacity to deliver a wide and diverse range of events.”

With Rallye Sunseeker being an important part of British rallying over the last number of years, Southern Car Club have striven to ensure that its high standards are maintained for competitors and fans alike and event director Rick Smith was delighted to tell Rallye Sunseeker that “the novelty of a holiday promotion, linked to the Rallye Sunseeker scrutiny & documentation at BIC, was immediately seized on by Barbados

Tourism Authority; their vision of cross- promotion was the same as ours, so it will be a partnership that benefits both parties. See the cars & crews and book a holiday!”

The Barbados Tourism involvement does not end there, as they are also supporting the Sunseeker National Rally and have offered a fabulous prize for the winner of this year’s event. This year’s winner will receive a prize worth more than £5,500 which includes free entry to Sol Rally 2012 (9 & 10 June), shipping the rally car to Barbados, flights accommodation and a rental car for the driver and co-driver when on the island.

Sol Rally Barbados 2012 is organised by the Barbados Rally Club and is a two-day tarmac rally, with 24 special stages run on the island’s intricate network of public roads which are ideal for a challenging and exciting rally.

Petra Roach, Barbados Tourism Authority’s vice president of marketing and sales commented: “I love coming down to Poole and Bournemouth each year for the Rallye Sunseeker to be a part of this momentous event which is a wonderful build up to our own award winning Sol Rally Barbados in June.

Sol Rally Barbados already has over 60 entries and is the Caribbean’s biggest annual motor sport international.  We have created something really special on our own slice of paradise - a world class event that attracts fans from around the globe and it is particularly apt in 2012 which is dedicated as our Year of Sport; from grassroots to world class.  Away from the roads, there is as much fun to be had for spectators as well as drivers in Barbados from sailing to surfing, dining to diving and of course all whilst basking in glorious sunshine so we are sure to live up to the expectations of everyone involved in the Rallye Sunseeker – the winners are certainly in for a good time!”