The Carter’s Pit Stop / Power King Batteries Summer Sun & Stars Rally is the new title for the 12-stage event being organised jointly by the Barbados Rally Club (BRC) and the Motoring Club of Barbados Inc (MCBI) at month-end (Saturday, August 29). The Barbados Historic Rally, organised by the Vaucluse Raceway Motor Sport Club (VR-MSC), will run ahead of the main event.
  Confirming the new deal, Carter’s marketing director Brian Hurley, said: “Carter’s Pit Stop, agent for Power King Batteries, is excited to confirm sponsorship of the Summer Sun & Stars Rally, our first rally as Title Sponsor. As it is a joint event, involving the Rally Club, Motoring Club and the Vaucluse Raceway MSC, we are positive this will attract a good entry and bring an exciting level of action and competition, and we wish to thank both the BRC and MCBI teams for the opportunity to be a part of this rally.”
  The new title sponsorship completes a major weekend of backing for motoring and motor sport for the company, which will begin on Friday evening; while Scrutineering for the Carter’s Pit Stop / Power King Batteries Summer Sun & Stars Rally will start at 4.00pm at the Wildey Complex, the retail store will open for extended hours to allow competitors and fans to make any last-minute purchases for the busy weekend.
  Then, on Sunday, from noon to 7.00pm, Retro & Classic Cars Barbados will be staging its Summer Expo in the Carter’s Car Park; the exhibits will be judged in four categories: Best Original Vehicle, Best Restoration, Best Paint Job and, finally Car of the Show.
  Hurley added: “We enjoy engaging with the motoring public, and being involved with all three of the rallying clubs in the Summer Sun & Stars Rally is great opportunity for us to mix with competitors and fans. On Sunday, everything will be happening at a much slower pace – we have supported the Retro & Classic Club before and are pleased to see an increasing number of persons interested in preserving the island’s motoring heritage.”
  Although entries for the Carter’s Pit Stop / Power King Batteries Summer Sun & Stars Rally do not open until next Monday (August 17), Sol Rally Barbados 2015 winner Jeff Panton and Rhett Watson, who finished seventh and highest-placed two-wheel-drive in the island’s premier event this year, have both already confirmed their participation. Panton will campaign his Rubis / Total / Sandals Barbados Ford Focus WRC06, while reigning BRC Champion Driver Watson will be at the wheel of his Chefette / Power King Batteries / Gliptone / Stihl in support of Little Pink Gift BMW M3.
  Entries will remain open at Motorsport Services, Haggatt Hall, St Michael, until the following Wednesday (August 26); the Briefing Meeting, at which the running order will be confirmed, is scheduled for Thursday, August 27, at 7.00pm at the Vaucluse Raceway Clubhouse in St Thomas.
  The Carter’s Pit Stop / Power King Batteries Summer Sun & Stars Rally runs from day into night, slated for a 2.00pm start and a finish at around 10.00pm. Twelve stages are planned, heading north from the Service Park at Hopewell Plantation during the afternoon, then southbound in darkness.
  From the start, there will be three runs each through Hangmans Hill to Canefield – these stages will run through the Vaucluse Raceway (VRW) in a much-lengthened configuration not previously used – and Dark Hole to Spring Vale; after darkness, there will be three runs each through Four Hills to French Village and Canefield to Hangmans, again including VRW.
  Hurley concluded: “From the inception of Carter’s Pit Stop and Power King Batteries, we have been involved with motor sport in the island and are one of the proud sponsors of Rhett Watson, who has had great success over the past two years. We are really looking forward to the staging of this event and wish all the competitors – not just Rhett! – a safe and enjoyable rally, and we must also thank the volunteer marshals and officials, whose tireless work is vital to motor sport.”
Photo - Corey Reece