The Barbados Rally Club (BRC) postponed Sol Rally Barbados 2021 and King of the Hill until next year.
The island’s premier rally event was originally scheduled for the weekend of September 25 and 26, while King of the Hill was slated for the weekend before.
Next year’s scheduled dates are Sunday, May 29 for King of the Hill, and the weekend of June 4 and 5 for Sol Rally Barbados 2022, the same year the Barbados Rally Club will celebrate its 65th Anniversary.
The Sol Group, title sponsors of the Club’s premier event since 2008, also supported the decision.
The BRC’s Committee of Management said, “We have not taken this decision lightly and have done so with health and safety uppermost in our minds, but fully understand the significant impact it will have on competitors, spectators, our loyal overseas visitors and our valued partners.
“The COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact daily life and sporting activity around the world. With 10 weeks to go before the scheduled dates for Sol Rally Barbados 2021 and King of the Hill over the last two weekends of September, the Government extended its ban on spectators attending sporting events, based on current protocols designed to keep our population safe.
“After an exhaustive look at the possibility of holding closed road events in a non-spectator environment, we have concluded that it is unworkable, as both Sol Rally Barbados and King of the Hill traditionally attract significant crowds.”
Rally Club P.R.O. Neil Barnard added, “The decision is massively disappointing for the organising team, who have worked extremely hard trying to overcome a number of obstacles to make this year’s 32nd running of our blue-ribbon event a reality. Much of the work already completed can be carried over to next year, though, so we remain positive.” (NM)
