Four British crews have confirmed their participation in this year’s BCIC Rally Barbados, the Caribbean’s premier motorsport event, set to take place from May 20 to June 1.
Leading the charge is seasoned campaigner Martin Stockdale, who will be making a record-breaking 23rd appearance. His son, Tom Stockdale, returns for a second consecutive year and will face off against his father in the Open Class – formerly Group B – as the family rivalry takes centre stage.
Cheryl Spencer and Simon Nutter complete the returning British line-up, both entering BMWs for the first time as the German marque continues to dominate the event’s entry list.
Ahead of the main rally weekend, the traditional curtain-raisers will take place on May 24 and 25. The Auto and Rally Show – a celebration of island rallying tradition – will offer fans a close-up look at every competing car, while the First Citizens King of the Hill shakedown will determine the seeding for the main event.
The British crews will be up against stiff competition from across Europe, the Caribbean and North America. BMW has been the most represented manufacturer at Rally Barbados since 2017, only losing that status twice – in 2018 and 2022 – both times to Ford.
An official statement from organisers noted: “While the introduction of the BimmaCup category sparked the initial growth, there has been a steady increase in competitors from the island and overseas using BMWs as a basis for the modified classes.”
Martin Stockdale’s current car – a Jaguar-engined BMW 1M Coupe – is the fourth different BMW he has brought to Barbados since 2001. He has rarely returned home without silverware, winning Group B in the past two editions alongside co-driver Graeme Wood.
This year, however, he will be partnered by Cameron Barclay, who brings local experience having previously co-driven in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI and a Hillman Imp.
Rally Barbados is a closed-road tarmac rally run across approximately 20 special stages on the island’s twisting public roads, under permissions granted by the Ministry of Transport & Works. The King of the Hill event features four timed runs over a roughly four-kilometre course, with results used to determine the starting order for the main rally.
