OR O RI N OTORING OTO O TOR RIN NG G TO R IN M New News N ews ews ws Neew
ISSUE # 289
COMPREHENSIVE COMP
INFORMATIVE
DECEMBER 2020
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GEARING UP FOR SOL RALLY BARBADOS
June 5 & 6 are the date aside for the Barbados Rally Club’s (BRC) Sol Rally Barbados 2021. And apart from the prestigious motoring event and subject to final ratification by the Barbados Motoring Federation (BMF), the Rally Show has been penciled in for Saturday May
Second BRC title for Corbin
Former double club champion Neil Corbin is the new champion driver of the Barbados Rally Club (BRC). Corbin’s second champion driver’s title also adds a sixth class championship to his cv, all achieved in the Nassco/H Jason Jones/Emtage Electric/Auto Solutions/Valvoline Toyota Starlet. At right is Corbin at Sailor Gully in Sol RB’20.
29 and Flow King of the Hill the following day. Online entries opened on the club’s official web site www.rallybarbados.net – on December 12 and will close early May 2021. Sol Rally Barbados is a tarmac rally, settled over 24 special stages run on an intricate network of public
roads, and the Flow King of the Hill ‘shakedown’, which features four timed runs on a nearly four-kilometre stage, are run under road closure orders granted by the Ministry of Transport, Works & Maintenance. The club’s public relations officer, Neil Barnard said the club is already hard at
work on the 2021 edition of Sol Rally Barbados but because Barbados is in still in the middle of a pandemic, the overall situation is still very fluid, but the club has to put plans in place. Admitting that the pandemic has highlighted the fragile nature of what they do and has forced them to
(Display until January 15)
Inside Season’s this Greetings edition..
look at various components of the event and its overall viability for 2021 and the future. “We learned a lot from this year’s event, held as it was in an unusual situation and in extreme weather conditions. It was very stressful to execute, but in the end I Cont’d on 3 ......
Swann wins MCBI Speed event. Page 10
Lewis Hamilton looks ahead to 2021. Page 19
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MOTORING NEWS DECEMBER 2020
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MOTORING NEWS DECEMMBER 2020
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Inside Front
PRO: Upsurge seen in BRC premier event From Page 1 ... think it was a success and we did learn a great deal in the process. Our intention as it is every year - is to try to take away the positives, apply them to the following year’s event and continue to improve,”Barnard noted. Although the coronavirus pandemic caused this year’s rally to be postponed for five months, the event ran successfully on October 31/November 1 with strict Covid-19 protocols in place for the organising team, participants and spectators. It was won by American motor sport star Ken Block and co-driver Alex Gelsomino in a brand-new EcoBoost-powered Ford Fiesta Rally2 with support from Ford Performance and Monster Energy. They returned a total elapsed time
of 56 minutes 03.19 seconds to take title in a day in which the overall lead changed several times. Block and Gelsomino who were seeing action in Barbados for the first time called it a great event with great competition with great atmosphere with the competitors and the fans. A 15-minute film created by the Hoonigan Racing Division’s media arm covering this year’s event including in-car footage on the two stages Block and Gelsomino won at Vaucluse on their way to victory, has been viewed nearly 600,000 times during November and early December, bringing the event and the Barbados to a global audience. Starting as the International All-Stage Rally of 1990 and the event
has developed into the Caribbean’s biggest annual motor sport international and a key national event on the Barbados’ sportstourism calendar and has contributed as much as Bds $4 million to the economy annually, much of it in valuable foreign exchange, and accounted for as many as 4,000 visitor nights at a traditionally quiet time in the tourism calendar. Sol Rally Barbados has hosted more than 500 overseas participants from 32 countries and while the biggest competitor base remains the UK and Ireland, competitors have come from as far away as Kenya and New Zealand, with a recent upsurge in interest from the United States.
Restrictors, engines legal
Vehicles configured with World Rally Car (WRC) 1600 cc engines and 34 mm restrictors are legal to compete under the Competition Regulations 2019 to 2021 of the Barbados Rally Club. And in a statement to members, the club said the National Court of Appeal representing the Barbados FIA’s ASN, the Barbados Motoring Federation, deliberated at length on the eligibility of the 1600 cc engine equipped with a 34 mm restrictor. Cont’d on page 4 ,,,
CRIME PREVENTION TIP:
Do not grow plants or trees that obstruct a clear view from windows and doors. Always ask how tall a plant grows before you purchase it. Positioning plants or trees is key to your safety. (From the Crime Prevention Department of the Royal Barbados Police Force)
The American pair of Ken Block and Alex Gelsomino in the Ford Performance/Monster Energy/Hoonigan Racing Ford Fiesta Rally2 on their way to victory in Sol Rally Barbados 2020.
We make it look like new, when we’re through
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MOTORING NEWS DECEMBER 2020
Hill, Gittens take FIA R5 title
FIA R5 Champions: The pair of Roger ‘The Ninja’ Hill and Graham Gittens in the Esso/MaxMeyer Paints/Motormac/DJ’s Skoda Fabia R5.
Roger ‘The Ninja’ Hill and Graham Gittens have taken the first lien on the FIA R5 group title. Driving the Esso/ MaxMeyer Paints/ Motormac/DJ’s Skoda Fabia R5, they are group champions after finishing fourth in last Sunday’s Barbados Rally Club’s (BRC) Winter
Rally which attracted 33 cars. Hill and Gittens were six seconds behind Stuart and Justin Maloney, who finished third overall, but one second ahead of the pair of Andrew Mallalieu and Geoff Goddard who finished fifth in a similar machine, on a day when no
less than four R5 cars finished in the top ten. But in the topclass group, Britain’s Rob Swann was the event’s winner with a total elapsed time of 16 minutes 41.09 seconds in the company of local codriver Sean Gill, with whom he chalked up his first win in Barbados in the Sunoco
Shakedown Stages in 2016 in a Subaru Impreza WRC S12B. Speaking after the eightstage event on Sunday, Swann said finally everything came together, adding that he knew he had the pace, but still had to put it together to get the win. “Normally the race-track
Cars, restrictors legal
From page 1,,, The club was responding to a report which called into question the clubs’ adherence to its rules and regulations as well as statements relative to the performance characteristics of the two engine capacities permitted within the WRC Group, the 1600 cc and 2000 cc. According to the BRC, deliberations were conducted via the clubs’ rules which facilitate the appeal process within the club, as well as to the national level and were followed explicitly. This mechanism is available to all members. This process, the statement said, resulted in an appeal to the National Court after two dissenting decisions by the club and the Court found that the Regulation as written allowed for an interpretation permitting the use of a 34 mm restrictor on a WRC 1600 cc engine. “The club is in possession of factual information from the highest level, refuting the statement made that a Ford WRC 1600 cc engine fitted with a 34 mm restrictor has “more power” than that of a Ford WRC 2000 cc engine fitted with the same size restrictor. The facts are that the 2000 cc has significant advantages over the 1600 variant in both Torque and HP”, the statement noted. The deliberations were conducted via the clubs’ rules which facilitate the appeal process within the club, as well as to the national level and were followed explicitly. This mechanism is available to all members. The statement said, the process resulted in an appeal to the National Court after two dissenting decisions by the club and the Court found that the Regulation as written allowed for an interpretation permitting the use of a 34 mm restrictor on a WRC 1600 cc engine. The National Court of Appeal is made up of three persons; one a legal professional, one a person of knowledge on the subject matter and a third person without these specific requirements. The National Court is the last Court of Appeal. The club said too, that the Competitions Regulations Sub Committee in a meeting earlier this month, has given a mandate to review the existing regulations that are due to change effective 1st January 2022 for a three year period. “As dictated by the club rules, the said revisions will be circulated to the membership by the 28th February 2021 and voted on via Emergency General Meeting (EGM) on or before 30th April 2021, the statement added and does not preclude changes being made to the regulations that may become effective post January 1, 2021.
bits aren't my thing, but we got a good lead in the morning and managed it for the afternoon. Big thanks to my wife Marie, as we would've celebrated 22 years of marriage on Saturday and we have never spent an anniversary apart!” Panton added: “Rob drove brilliantly and it took a long time to get close to his times with some aggressive driving; kudos to him as he was the better driver today. I still don't feel as confident at high-speed as I should, so some testing next year will be important to find the right setup,” he added. His good performance last Sunday has made him provisional four wheel drive and WRC Champion, beating Jamaica’s Jeff Panton to both titles. Panton finished second on Sunday, but ahead of FIA R5 class-winners Stuart and Justin Maloney in the VP Fuels/Chevron/Bushy Park Barbados/Rock Hard Cement/Sign station Skoda Fabia R5 who were third. In the battle for two wheel drive honours Andrew Jones and Lindsey Pilkington are provisional champions as well as for SM2 Champions in the Herr’s Chips/Gales Agro/Southern Surf Beach
Apartments/AP Jones Pharmacy Ford Escort MkII despite finishing Sunday’s rally to rivals Barry Mayers and Ben Norris in the Chefette/Rubis/Quality Tyre/Sign Depot Ford Fiesta who finished sixth overall. Mayers said he was pleased with the win given the disappointment of Sol Rally Barbados. Jones was equally as happy after a battle with Josh Read in the WeetaBix Toyota Starlet. “The main focus was the two wheel drive championship and we were able to maintain a good margin on that. Today we planned to make it to the end in a decent position so it being a high-scoring event I had to be quick but careful,” Jones added. Of note for the event was participation of Ahmed Esuf who walked away from a horrific crash on Saturday in the Motoring Club Barbados Incorporated (MCBI) double header speed event from Sunbury to Oughterson, St. Philip. The Express Imports Inc/Y Esuf Auto Clinic/Prosales/Premier Diamonds BMW M3 was extensively damaged, but Cont’d on page 8
MOTORING NEWS DECEMBER 2020
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Barbados Rally Club 2020 Official results
Final Overall Positions after round 6:
MOTORING NEWS NOVEMBER 2020
BRC Driver’s Championship
1st Neil Corbin (SM1 Nassco/H Jason Jones/Emtage Electric/Auto Solutions/Valvoline Toyota Starlet), 104 points 2nd Andrew Jones (SM2 Herr’s Chips/AP Jones Pharmacy/Southern Surf Beach Apartments/Kepro Veterinary Solutions/Gales Agro/Weetabix/Java Island Coffee/Weetabix/The Shore Club Turks & Caicos/Hankook Ford Escort MkII), 100pts 3rd Roger Hill (FIA R5 Esso/MaxMeyer Paints/Motormac/DJ’s Skoda Fabia R5), 99pts 4th Rob Swann – ENG (WRC Blue Sky Luxury/Elegant Hotels/raswann.co.uk Ford Fiesta WRC), 98pts 5th Jason Downey (C2 BimmaCup), 92pts 6th Jeffrey Panton – JAM (WRC Rubis/Sandals/KIG Ford Fiesta WRC), 91pts;
BRC Class Championship Final Positions after round 6:
WRC: 1st Swann - ENG, 98 points; 2nd Panton – JAM, 91pts FIA R5: 1st Hill, 99pts; 2nd Andrew Mallalieu (Terra Caribbean Ford Fiesta R5),87pts; 3rd Stuart Maloney (VP Fuels/Chevron/Bushy Park Barbados/Rock Hard Cement/Sign Station Skoda Fabia R5), 75pts; etc SuperModified 2: 1st Jones, 100pts; 2nd Barry Mayers (Chefette/Rubis/Quality Tyre/Sign Depot Ford Fiesta), 88pts; 3rd Rhett Watson (Chefette/Stihl/Gliptone/Gunk/Bajan Pure Water/It’s Barbados/Hankook Tyres/Power King Batteries BMW M3), 60pts; etc SM1: 1st Corbin, 104pts; 2nd Ryan O Wood (MB Auto City/BizNeedz Racing/Lucas Oil/Shonny’s Kitchen Toyota Starlet), 42pts Modified 3: 1st Ahmed Esuf (Express Imports Inc/Y Esuf Auto Clinic/Prosales/Premier Diamonds BMW M3), 75pts; 2nd Kurt Thompson (Glassesco/NKM Clothing/BioBeauty/King Ocean Shipping BMW M3 Compact), 59pts; 3rd David St Hill (Tropical Touch/St Hill & Sons Garage BMW M3), 52pts M2: 1st Jamal Brathwaite (Java Island/Consumers Guaranteed Insurance/Automotive Art/Valvoline/Caribbean Auto Glass/809 Design Associates /TEC Barbados/Stylez Auto Spa/Ellsemere Quarries/Chicken Pen Racing Honda Civic Type-R), 89pts M1: 1st Jermin Pope (Glassesco/Good Time Snacks/NKM Clothing/CA Autobody Repairs/Industries Honda Civic), 51pts Historic 2: 1st Harold Morley - ENG (Spectrum X Porsche 911RS), 48pts Clubman 2: 1st Downey, 92pts; 2nd Stuart Garcia (Kirba Inc/Smith’s Engineering Works/GuavaTech BimmaCup), 89pts BRC 4wd Championship: 1st Swann - ENG, 107pts; 2nd Panton - JAM, 95pts; 3rd Hill, 76pts; 4th Mallalieu, 68pts; 5th Maloney, 55pts*; 6th Paul Horton - TCI (FIA R5 Java Island/HO2 Construction/Sky Motorsports Ford Fiesta R5), 55pts*; * tie-break rules applied for final positions BRC 2wd Championship: 1st Jones, 100pts; 2nd Mayers, 88pts; 3rd Corbin, 75pts; 4th Brathwaite, 63pts; 5th Watson, 52pts; 6th Esuf, 41pts;
Chefette MudDogs Safari Championship Final positions after round 3 – Overall Drivers & Navigators: 1st David Armstrong & Andrew Croney (Nassco Toyota Hilux), 176 points 2nd Chris King & Warrick Eastmond (Nissan Frontier), 174pts 3rd Willie Hinds & Wayne Manning (Suzuki Samurai), 166pts 4th Stephen Mayers & David Reece (Toyota Hilux), 162pts 5th Gary Mendes/George Mendes (G & G Sales and Service/Neil’s Bistro/Blvck Diamond Kustomz/Dream Auto Kustomz/Wyndham Auto Services and off road Fabrications/Big Guys Pudding and Souse/Barbados Muffler Center/Lunatics Inc Daihatsu Rocky), 154pts 6th Abdullah Patel/Bilal Patel (Patels Equipment & Hardware/NiLight LED Lights/Aquarius Faucets Mitsubishi L200), 146pts; Class B Drivers: 1st A Patel, 174pts; 2nd Shaquille Jemmott (DreamAuto Kustomz/Blvck Diamond Kustomz Suzuki Escudo), 174pts; 3rd John Pinto (GMC Sonoma), 170pts Class B Navigator: 1st B Patel, *174pts; 2nd Shanica Toppin (DreamAuto Kustomz/Blvck Diamond Kustomz Suzuki Escudo), *174pts; 3rd Kristina Pinto (GMC Sonoma & Suzuki Samurai), 168pts; * tie-break rules applied for final positions
BRC Autocross Championship Final Overall positions after round 5: 1st Christopher McFarlane - JAM (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X FQ), 75 points 2nd Jamal Boodhoo (Mitsubishi Colt), *69pts 3rd Stephen Nicholls (Nissan March), *69pts 4th Jody Forte (Subaru BRZ), *69pts 5th Omar Boodhoo (Subaru Impreza WRX & Mitsubishi Colt), 67pts; etc * tie-break rules applied for final positions 4wd (Race Tyres): 1st McFarlane - JAM, 75pts; 2nd Omar Boodhoo (Subaru Impreza WRX), 62pts; 3rd J Boodhoo (Subaru Impreza WRX), 33pts; 4wd (Street Tyres): 1st McFarlane - JAM, 73pts; 2nd Maurice Chapman (Subaru Impreza WRX), 61pts; 3rd Ryan Rock (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X FQ), 46pts; 2wd (Race Tyres): 1st Nicholls, 69pts; 2nd Forte, 69pts; 3rd Ryan Rock (Toyota Starlet), 39pts; etc 2wd (Street Tyres): 1st J Boodhoo (Mitsubishi Colt), 69pts; 2nd O Boodhoo (Mitsubishi Colt), 67pts; 3rd Corey Jackman (Toyota Corolla & Suzuki Swift Sport), 50pts; Females: 1st Cheryl-Ann Hurley (Toyota Starlet & Hyundai Ioniq), 63pts; 2nd Tammy Nelson (Subaru Impreza & Suzuki Swift Sport), 52pts; 3rd Kristina Pinto (BimmaCup), 26pts Motoring News Novices: 1st Ramon Moore (Toyota Corolla & Suzuki Swift Sport), 32pts; 2nd Damian Sobers (Toyota Corolla), 31pts; 3rd Joseph Tseu (Daihatsu Charade), 28pts;
MOTORING NEWS DECEMBER 2020
Mark Thompson is BPMSI 2020 champion driver Mark Thompson is champion driver of Bushy Park Motor Sports Incorporated (BPMSI) for 2020. In a season shortened to two race meets by the coronavirus pandemic, he won Group 2/Class 1 in five of the six races in his Glassesco/NKM Clothing/ Bio Beauty Toyota Starlet, his only DNF coming in the final race of the season. His year-end total was 118 points, beating Andre Walcott, twice the champion driver in the past three sea-
Mark Thompson sons, to the overall title by
27 points. Stuart Maloney placed third, another 13 points in arrears. Thompson’s class was the best supported for the year and produced some good racing, with former Champion Drivers Jermin Pope in Glassesco Honda Civic and Devan McCartney at the wheel of the Zephirin’s Bakeries/CA Autobody Repairs Honda CRX in the mix, finishing second and third on 66 and 45 points respectively, with Pope also fourth in the
Page 7 champion driver’s title chase. Verdon Inniss driving the Rezult Auto Shop Toyota Starlet and Patrick Weekes in the PIRG Construction/Advanced Automotive Systems/NS Services Nissan March, also picked up podium finishes in the class during the season. Walcott won Gp1/C1 for the fourth straight year in his Williams Industries/ ACE H & B Hardware/CA Autobody Repairs/M-Grafix/Hilti/SE Performance/Goodyear Suzuki Swift, was dominant in Gp1/C1, the next bestsupported class. Two Rookies, who made their BPMSI debuts in the season’s second race meet, Sebastian Thompson, driving a Bushy Park Suzuki Swift Sports Cup car finished with 49 points, and Kyle Smith in a Honda Civic, finished second and third in the class. Maloney was the Group 4 champion in his VP Fuel Sales/Rock Hard Cement/Bushy Park Barbados/Sign Station Citroen C2 S2000, while Tremaine Forde-Catwell driving the CCT Paints/
Cheese Autoglass Finish/Hilti Daihatsu Charmant, won Gp2/C2 and finished fifth overall. There will also be trophies at the prizegiving for the BimmaCup drivers who raced in August: with two wins and a second place, Sacha Soodeen topped the table with 68 points, ahead of the other race-winner
Shawn Boxill on 52, with Jason Parkinson and Trinidad and Tobago’s David Coelho tied for third on 45. The club is hoping for a more positive season in 2021, with the prizegiving to honour this year’s winners the first date on the provisional calendar, slated for Saturday, January 23.
BPMSI 2020 Championship, final points Group 1/Class 1: Champion - Andre Walcott (Williams Industries/ACE H & B Hardware/CA Autobody Repairs/M-Grafix/Hilti/SE Performance/Goodyear Suzuki Swift), 91 points; 2nd Sebastian Thompson (Glassesco Suzuki Swift Sport), 49pts; 3rd Kyle Smith (Honda Civic), 45pts; Group 2/Class 1: Champion - Mark Thompson (Glassesco/NKM Clothing/Bio Beauty Toyota Starlet), 118pts; 2nd Jermin Pope (Glassesco Honda Civic), 66pts; 3rd Devan McCartney (Zephirins Bakeries/CA Autobody Repairs Honda CRX), 45pts; etc Gp2/C2: Champion Tremaine Forde-Catwell (CCT Paints/Cheese Autoglass Finish/Hilti Daihatsu Charmant), 54pts; 2nd Tyrone Martindale (Marks Auto Spares/Performance Plus Honda CRX), 15pts Group 3: Champion - Ahmed Esuf (Y Esuf Auto Clinic/Express Imports Honda Civic), 36pts Group 4: Champion - Stuart Maloney (VP Fuel Sales/Rock Hard Cement/Bushy Park Barbados/Sign Station Citroen C2 S2000), 78pts; 2nd Zane Maloney (VP Fuel Sales/Rock Hard Cement/Bushy Park Barbados/Sign Station Skoda Fabia R5), 42pts BimmaCup Challenge, final points: 1st Sacha Soodeen, 68pts; 2nd Shawn Boxill, 52pts; equal 3rd David Coelho (T&T) & Jason Parkinson, 45pts;
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Meet the champions of 2020,,,
MOTORING NEWS DECEMBER 2020
WRC champion, Briton’s Rob Swann -98 points
Championship icing on the cake; says champion
From page 4,,, all-night work repairing the car, coupled with robust determination, he is now provisional Modified 3 champion at the end of his full season in the sport and a just reward for the efforts of he and his team. But it’s Neil Corbin the club’s champion driver, after victory in SuperModified 1 in the Nassco/H Jason Jones/Emtage Electric/Auto Solutions/Valvoline Toyota Starlet. Paired with regular co-driver Matthew Staffner they maintained their 100 per cent win rate in the 2020 Driver’s and Class Championships and earned the crew their second overall championship, adding to that won in 2012 from Modified 6. “It's been a long time since being in contention for the championship and they are hard to win. This year has been challenging for many persons and at one point I wasn't going to drive, but when things opened up, I found some motivation. I didn't have a highly competitive group this season, but a consistent year of fun and entertainment was welcome, so a championship is icing on the cake,”Corbin added. Adding the title to his it joins sixth class championship with the Starlet which has been steadily developed over the years on his way to the title in 2012, two class championships again in 2016, the first year it was renamed M1.
Champion driver and SM1 champion, Neil Corbin in the Nassco/H Jason Jones/Emtage Electric/Auto Solutions/Valvoline Toyota Starlet.
SuperModified 2 champion driver Andrew Jones ended the season with 100 points.
Modified 3 champion driver Ahmed Esuf in the Express Imports Inc/Y Esuf Auto Clinic/Prosales/Premier Diamonds BMW M3.
Historic 2 champion driver Harold Morley in the Spectrum X Porsche 911RS.
M2 champion Jamal Brathwaite in the Java Island/Consumers Guaranteed Insurance/ Automotive Art/Valvoline/Caribbean Auto Glass/809 Design Associates /TEC Barbados/ Stylez Auto Spa/Ellsemere Quarries/Chicken Pen Racing Honda Civic Type-R.
M1 champion driver 1st Jermin Pope in the Glassesco/Good Time Snacks/NKM Clothing/CA Autobody Repairs/Industries Honda Civic.
MOTORING NEWS DECEMBER 2020
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David Armstrong & Andrew Croney (Nassco Toyota Hilux) - 176 points
Christopher McFarlane (Goodyear Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X FQ)- 75 points
Top female Cheryl-Ann Hurley (Toyota Starlet & Hyundai Ioniq), 63 points.
Champion driver: 2wd (Race Tyres): Stephen Nicholls - 69 points
Sharing the moment: Rookie champion driver: Ramon Moore (Toyota Corolla & Suzuki Swift Sport), right, in conversation with his father Patrick Moore, at the end of final event December 2020.
MudDogs Class B Navigator Bilal Patel, (174 points) with his brother Abdullah in their Toyota Hilux early in the season.
Clubman 2 champion driver Jason Downey in the Tropical Shipping BMW collected 92 points.
Chris King claimed his first victory and Warrick Eastmond his second in their Nissan Frontier in the Shelbury Construction ‘June Safari’2020.
Page 10
MOTORING NEWS DECEMER 2020
Britain’s Rob Swann in the Blue Sky Luxury/Elegant Hotels/raswann.co.uk Ford Fiesta WRC found winner’s row in Round 1 of the Motoring Club Barbados Incorporated’s (MCBI) with a time of 1 minute 20.53 seconds.
Titles shared in MCBI doubleheader
Britain’s Rob Swann and Jamaica’s Jeff Panton shared the honours as drivers disposed of the Motoring Club Barbados Incorporated’s (MCBI) ‘Run-to-Winter’ doubleheader speed event from Harrow to Oughterson, St. Philip. Held on December 6 in
brilliant sunshine the field reflected most of the entries seen in the two major motoring events, viz, Flow King of the Hill and Sol Rally Barbados 2020, and with this year’s King of the Hill winners, Dane Skeete and Tyler Mayhew sitting out the action, it was a straight fight between WRC
arch rivals Swann in the Blue Sky Luxury/Elegant Hotels/raswann.co.uk Ford Fiesta WRC and Panton, at the wheel of the Rubis/Sandals/KIG Ford Fiesta WRC, and they did not disappoint as both drivers turned in good performances over the nearly seven mile twisty course in clear
Stuart Maloney in the VP Fuels/Chevron/Bushy Park Barbados/Rock Hard Cement/Sign station Skoda Fabia R5 was third fastest.
Jeff Panton at the wheel of the Rubis/Sandals/KIG Ford Fiesta WRC won Round 2 of the Motoring Club Barbados Incorporated’s (MCBI) doubleheader ‘The run to Winter’. driving the Express view of fans along the Cement/Sign station Skoda Fabia R5 was third fastest Imports/SY Adam & route. Son/Prosales/Y Esuf Auto time returning a time of 1 Swann gave notice of his Clinic Ford Fiesta R5, minute 26.60. intentions from the practice completed the top six in Roger ‘The Ninja’ Hill at run and posted the fastest practice and would hold on the wheel of the time of 1 minute 23.63 sectheir positions until the end onds and Panton was a gear- Esso/MaxMeyer of the of the first session of Paints/Motormac/DJ’s change away with a time of the double-header. 1 minute 24.22, while Stuart Skoda Fabia R5, Andrew Mallalieu in the Terra Maloney in the VP Cont’d on page 11,,, Fuels/Chevron/Bushy Park Caribbean Ford Fiesta R5 Barbados/Rock Hard and Suleiman ‘Sol’ Esuf
MOTORING NEWS DECEMBER 2020
Sulieman ‘Sol’ Esuf in the Express Imports Inc/Y Esuf Auto Clinic /Prosales/ Premier Diamonds Ford Fiesta R5 with a time of 1 minute 24.45 seconds rounded out the top six with a time of 1 minute 25.45 seconds in Round 1. Water BMW M3 took car of the top six. From page 11,,, the honours at stake in M3 Turks and Caicos Islander Swann bettered his times with a time of 1 minute 29. Paul Horton in the Java throughout the early after24 seconds, while Neil Island/HO2 noon session and took the Corbin at the wheel of the Construction/Sky honours with the best time Nassco/H Jason Motorsports Ford Fiesta R5 of 1 minute 20.53 seconds, Jones/Emtage Electric/Auto whose time of 1 minute compared with 1 minute Solutions/Valvoline Toyota 26.37 seconds finished sev21.31 seconds for second Starlet showed his class as enth. Down in the lower place Panton, as Maloney he posted a time of 1 classes Josh Read made his strayed on course and held minute 29.65 seconds getpresence felt in SM2 in the on to the third spot with a ting the better of Jason Weetabix Toyota Starlet time of 1 minute 23.38 secHarewood who was seeing with the be st time of 1 onds and ahead of Hill in competitive action for the minute 27.58 seconds, the Esso/MaxMeyer first time this year and batupsetting the inform Paints/Motormac/DJ’s tling mechanical problems Skoda Fabia R5, whose best Andrew Jones in the Herr’s and returned a time of 1 time was 1 minute 25.01 Chips/Gales Agro/Southern minute 43.33. seconds. Surf Beach Apartments/AP Jamal Brathwaite was Mallalieu turned in a time Jones Pharmacy Ford Escort of 1 minute 25.08 seconds MkII who had to be content impressive throughout the day with some consistent to be fifth, while Suleiman with second place after ‘Sol’ Esuf in the Express returning a time of 1 minute driving to take M2 with a Imports Inc/Y Esuf Auto 28.71. Logan Watson in the time 1 minute 92.32 seconds Cargo BGI/Leafy Clinic /Prosales/ Premier Organics/It’s Barbados/Luxe as David St Hill in the Diamonds Ford Fiesta R5 Tropical Touch/St Hill & Caribbean with a time of 1 minute Sons Garage BMW M3 led Properties/Stihl/Bajan Pure 24.45 seconds rounded out
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Logan Watson in the Cargo BGI/Leafy Organics/It’s Barbados/Luxe Caribbean Properties/Stihl/Bajan Pure Water BMW M3 took car of the honours at stake in M3.
the way to the honours in M3 with a time of 1 minute 32.61 seconds beating crowd-favourite Ahmed Esuf in a well-turned out Express Imports Inc/Y Esuf Auto Clinic /Prosales/ Premier Diamonds BMW M3 who picked up second place with a time of 1 minute 33.83. When the course was raced in the opposite direction from Harrow to Oughterson it was Panton who showed
the way home with a time of 1 minute 19.06 seconds ahead of Swann whose time was 1 minute 21.76 and Maloney with a time of 1 minute 25.93, but as the drivers were putting to bed run two Ahmed Esuf the opening run of Round Two lost control of the BMW M3 and collided with a utility pole and brought the afternoon’s proceedings to an abrupt end. He emerged unhurt and
checked by paramedics on the scene and taken away for further observation, but the car sustained extensive damage to its rear. The accident threw Oughterson and parts of St. Philip into darkness for nearly six hours as repair crews from the Barbados Light and Power Company worked replanted a pole and restored power to the affected areas See page 18 ...
Andrew Mallalieu in the Terra Caribbean Ford Fiesta R5 turned in a time of 1 minute 25.08 seconds and was fifth in Round 1
Turks and Caicos Islander Paul Horton in the Java Island/HO2 Construction/Sky Motorsports Ford Fiesta R5.
Crowd-favourite Ahmed Esuf in a well-turned out Express Imports Inc/Y Esuf Auto Clinic /Prosales/ Premier Diamonds BMW M3 emerged unhurt after a shunt on the second run of Round 2.
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MOTORING NEWS DECEBER 2020
Moore is rookie champion
2020 Barbados Rally Club (BRC) Rookie Champion Driver Ramon Moore switched to a Bushy Park Suzuki Swift Cup car for the final event of the series.
Barbados Rally Club’s (BRC) rookie champion of the 2020 Ramon Moore will be looking to make his presence felt this year. But it would depend on how the season develops given the Covid-19 Pandemic and it’s impact on motorsport “I wouldn’t be a rookie this year, so I would be out to make my presence felt this year. I changed from the Corolla just before the final event of the last season and as long as the Covid-19 Pandemic allows the sport to go ahead I will be trying to do my best in competition”, he noted. He said too that he would be looking for some assistance with his plans and securing sponsorship would go a long way in helping him in this year’s competition, of which he expects, is going to be tough. “I ended the 2020 season driving a Bushy Park Suzuki Swift Cup Car, but with my new car; a Toyota Corolla, I will be putting in as much seat time ahead of the start of the 2021 sea-
son”, he added. He and his works crew has some remedial work to do on the gearbox of the new car, as the sport rides out the effects of the coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic. Moore won the BRC AutoCross rookie crown by one point after a day of intense battle of round five of the championship which brought the curtain came down at Bushy Park. Switching from a Toyota Corolla 1500 to a Bushy Park Suzuki Swift Cup car Moore had to battle with Damian Sobers in a rear wheel drive Sobers & Sons Auto/Lucas Oil Products Toyota Corolla FX 2000 and Joseph Tseu in the Carter’s PitStop Daihatsu Charade 1300 and ended with 32 points. Sobers was second with 31 and Tseu finished third overall in the rookie championship with 28 points. Speaking after the event Moore said he knew it would have been tough, but he gave it his best and is happy to have won the title. “I am happy. I sold the
previous Corolla and had to change to a Bushy Park Suzuki Swift Cup Car if I wanted to have any chance at taking the title and I knew it would not have been easy, but I am still happy to have been able to win the title and the trophy”, he said. Moore won the season opener, and along with Sobers and Tseu will collect trophies donated by Motoring News during the club’s annual ceremony at a time and place yet to be made public. “We wanted to make our presence felt in the series and decided to give our support to the rookie section of the AutoCross for a threeyear period and stand ready to welcome the other drivers who would be contesting the rookie title this year”, said Motoring News editor treVor Thorpe. Coordinator of the series Geoff Goddard thanked Motoring News for the support and pointed out that the AutoCross Series is the future of motor sport in Barbados.
Damian Sobers in the rear wheel drive Sobers & Sons Auto/Lucas Oil Products Toyota Corolla FX 2000 finished second overall in the rookie title chase.
Joseph Tseu in the Carter’s PitStop Daihatsu Charade 1300 placed third in the rookie championship with 28 points.
MOTORING NEWS DECEMBER 2020 Page 13
Christopher " Teach" McFarlane drove the GoodYear Tyres Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 10 FQ 300 to a record six consecutive wins in the BRC’s AutoCross series. He shares the moment with sliding master Geoff Ullyett.
Record six AutoCross titles for ‘Teach’ McFarlane
6-Love. That’s how Jamaica’s Christopher ‘Teach’ McFarlane at the wheel of
the Christopher " Teach" McFarlane in the GoodYear Tyres Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 10 FQ 300
summed up his 2020 Barbados Rally Club (BRC) AutoCross performance last year.
Female AutoCross champion driver Cheryl-Ann Hurley. “As a Jamaican we are well know for our exploits in the sport of dominoes and after reviewing my thoughts at the beginning of the last season and being somewhat undecided, this win is six love. We do it in dominoes, so I wanted to record the feat in motorsport”, an elated McFarlane told Motoring News. Saying it was a tough year, the six-time champion said he was thinking about quitting last year, but later decided to continue, but the
Covid-19 pandemic brough it problems to the sport not only in Barbados. but worldwide, but Woolf Sales Solutions would still be presenting the trophies. McFarlane ended with 75 points, followed by Jamal Boodhoo, Stephen Nicholls and Jody Forte who all ended with 69 points and whose places had to be decided on using the club’s rules on tie-breakers. Former champion, Omar Boodhoo in a Subaru WRX finished fifth 67 points as
repeat female champion driver Cheryl-Ann Hurley rounded out the top six with 63.
Dip lights to oncoming traffic, and be courtegeous on our roads. A message from driveTime
Page 14
Motoring News 3 Tranquility Drive, Greenpoint, St.Philip Barbados. West Indies. Tel. (246) 823-1117/423-0353 Founded January 17, 1997
E-Mail: motoringnews34@gmail.com Website: www.motoringnewsonline.com
ß MOTORING NEWS DECEMBER 2020 Editor: Trevor Thorpe Reporters: Frederick Ferraro, Justin Weir, The Onlooker Pens, Regional & International: JMann, Electronic Services Inc. Advertising: MN Advertising, Photography: MN Pix Clix, Lindsay Farmer, Warren Gollop, Corey Reece, Simon Slade, treVor Thorpe, justbajan.com, Colbert Goddard. Motoring News is a monthly publication covering local, regional and international motorsport and the automobile industry. It is circulated worldwide.
Motoring News Business Centre ...
Business ...
Christmas cheer to children from ANSA McAL Group
In our photo from left: Back row: Katrina Newton, CEO Standard Distributors, Rachel Pilgrim, Group Marketing Manager ANSA McAL, Dionne Walthrus, Consolidated Finance, Maria Higgins, ANSA Motors, Front row sitting: Jacqueline Skeete and Dorothy Cooke-Johnson, of the Barbados Cancer Society and standing at right, Deborah Brathwaite and Kara Boyce of Bryden Stokes Ltd. ‘This year more than ever truly amazing and made it shopped and wrapped 65 Barbados Cancer Society, der, from two years to 16 had been affected by the we wanted to do something so worthwhile. gifts for children diagnosed to match their age and genyears. Almost 40 families distress of cancer. special as a team, and we “A huge thank you to with cancer or who had lost all worked together as a everyone who worked hard a parent to cancer. family, to make this hapto bring this project to The employees of four of pen’. fruition’, she added. the ANSA McAL compaAnd Rachel Pilgrim, Pilgrim made the comment nies came together and Group Marketing Head for after employees of ANSA donated funds which were the ANSA McAL Group Motors, Bryden Stokes Ltd, then matched by their comsaid the ‘feel good factor’ Consolidated Finance, and panies to purchase gifts, as which it gave to us all, was Standard Distributors had recommended by The
Keep Barbados clean and wear your seatbelts. A message from Motoring News
MOTORING NEWS DECEMBER 2020
Motoring News Business Centre ...
Page 15
Business Centre ...
GM, Cadillac moving into aerial mobility The General Motors’ flying Cadillac concept vehicle.
We have seen the future of Cadillac and it covers a lot of ground, from elegant flagships to practical SUVs to even, yes, boxy self-driving ride-share pods and a
flying car. All of those were on display during a lengthy presentation from General Motors at the virtual 2021 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) as
part of the keynote address by the automaker's chairman and chief executive officer Mary Barra. Let's go to the wildest first: The flying Cadillac that
looks like a cross between a drone and a helicopter. It's hard to tell if it is a singleseater or if you can squeeze in a second passenger, but either way, an Escalade it is not. And GM is not providing additional details at this time, so, the sky's the limit on speculation. The eVOL concept is Cadillac (and GM's) first foray into aerial mobility and has a 90-kW electric motor to power four rotors for vertical takeoff and landing. The personal aircraft can hit speeds of up to 56 mph. It was designed so that, as you fly silently over more terrestrial traffic, you're afforded a panoramic view below, says Michael Simcoe, GM vice president of global design. Cadillac's Ride-Sharing Shuttle Concept Also in the Cadillac future projects portfolio is a selfdriving cube: a people mover with sliding doors
and a big glass roof. It doesn't fly, but without the need for a steering wheel or pedals, the interior is taken up by a white couch that rings the pod so passengers can converse while sipping their martinis (perhaps). Simcoe called it a "social space for a group of friends or family to spend time together on their way to a destination." The whimsical future ideas about social interactions with other people in closed spaces were all GM offered CES attendees. Viewers got a glimpse of the elegant Cadillac Celestiq flagship sedan concept and the 2023 Cadillac Lyriq electric midsize crossover. Yes, General Motors meant it when it said Cadillac would lead the charge to an all-electric future. GM is investing $27 billion to develop electric and autonomous vehicles with plans to offer 30 allelectric vehicles globally by the end of 2025.
Hard choice
The Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla are natural competitors, two affordable, efficient compact sedans from automakers with deserved reputations for reliability. Toyota issued the more recent update; the currentgeneration Corolla sedan made its debut for the 2020 model year whereas the Civic was last redesigned for 2016. That said, the current Civic has surpassed expectations since launch. When the Civic was compared against the Corolla and Mazda 3, the Civic was not only the least expensive of the three, but it also offered the most feature content. The Civic's interior material quality is superior, too.
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MOTORING NEWS DECEMBER 2020
MOTORING NEWS DECEMBER 2020
Verstappen wants Red Bull to be stronger from the start of new season
Max Verstappen may have won the final race of the 2020 season at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, but even as the fizzy rose water was still drying on his overalls, the Dutchman was turning his attention to 2021, as he issued a rallying cry to Red Bull to hit the ground running next season. On an evening where Mercedes had no answer to pole-sitter Verstappen’s pace, the Dutchman’s 10th career victory saw him fin-
ish over 15s up the road from Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton, as team mate Alex Albon claimed P4. “It was really enjoyable,” said Verstappen, who this weekend ended Mercedes’ dominant run of taking every pole and win at Yas Marina since 2014. “Today we had a good start and from then on of course you look after the tyres, but the car was having a really good balance."
Asked if any worries had blighted his evening in Abu Dhabi, meanwhile, Verstappen replied: “Just a bit of vibration on the tyre, so I was thinking back to Spa and of course Imola [the latter race having witnessed a tyre failure that cost Verstappen second place]. But luckily all good. The pace was still there, the tyres were still performing.” Verstappen’s victory may have been dominant – but it was only his second of the
season, in a year that’s seen Mercedes take wins in 13 out of 17 races. And the 23year-old used his post-race media comments to call on his Red Bull team to now carry this momentum through the winter and into next year. “To be honest, I didn’t expect before I got here to win the race here and be on pole,” said Verstappen. “I read that [Mercedes] had to turn the engines down a bit, so of course that’s not help-
ing for them, but in general, still the car performed very strong and better than expected, so of course very happy with that. “It’s a great way to finish the season, it’s a good boost for everyone in the team here, but also back at the factory, and I just hope of course that we learn from the previous years that we have to be stronger at the beginning of the season.” Verstappen’s team boss Christian Horner echoed his
Page 17
driver’s sentiments, meanwhile, after praising the Dutchman’s “unbelievable” performance in Abu Dhabi. “Max all weekend has just been absolutely clinical, the way he's driven – whatever [Mercedes] had, he had a response to today,” said Horner. “He did an unbelievable job. His qualifying lap set everything up beautifully and then he just totally controlled the race”.
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Moments of 2020
MOTORING NEWS DECEMBER 2020
Ross Callender at the wheel of a well-prepared Daihatsu Charmant during the Motoring Club’s Run-to-Winter doubleheader speed event from Sunbury to Oughterson, St. Philip.
The pair of Barry Mayers and Ben Norris in the Chefette/Rubis/Quality Tyre/Sign Depot Ford Fiesta had there moments in 2020.
Tremaine Forde-Catwell at the wheel of the CCT Paints/Cheese Autoglass Finish/Hilti Daihatsu Charmant.
Ryan Rock gets some body roll in his Toyota Corolla.
Stuart Knaggs in the God & Company Toyota Corolla.
Former four times BRC AutoCross Champion driver Omar Boodhoo.
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MOTORING NEWS DECEMBER 2020
Five bold predictions for the 2021 2020 was an F1 season like no other in recent memory. And with a number of longstanding records having been skittled this year – several of them by the nowseven-time champion Lewis Hamilton – we look at the feats that entered the F1 history books in 2020. An asterisk denotes that the record has the potential to be extended further. 1. Lewis Hamilton – Most wins in F1 (95*) 2020 might have been the year that Lewis Hamilton equalled Michael Schumacher’s seven world titles. But it was also the year that the Mercedes driver overtook the legendary German’s record of 91 wins in the sport – Hamilton equalling the record at the Eifel Grand Prix, surpassing it in Portugal, while his Bahrain Grand Prix triumph stood as his 95th in F1. 2. Lewis Hamilton – Most wins with a single constructor (74*) This season saw Hamilton get into double digits for race victories for the sixth time in the last seven years, as he ended up on 11 wins for 2020. That sort of uberconsistent win-taking since he joined Mercedes – and especially since 2014 – helped Hamilton to surpass Schumacher’s record for most victories with a single constructor, with Hamilton having now claimed 74 with the Silver Arrows, to Schumacher’s 72 with Ferrari. 3. Sergio Perez – Most starts before a victory (190) One of just four Grands Prix this season that wasn’t won by Mercedes was claimed, in remarkable fashion, by Racing Point’s Sergio Perez, who benefitted from a “colossal f*** up” (Toto Wolff’s words, dear reader, not ours) from Mercedes to win the Sakhir Grand Prix. That meant that Perez broke Mark Webber’s 11-year record for most starts prior to a victory – Webber’s coming at his 130th start at the 2009 German Grand Prix, while Perez’s came on his 190th.
4. Mercedes – Most consecutive constructors’ championships (7*) While Hamilton was pushing the records, so too were his Mercedes team. Having matched Ferrari’s six consecutive constructors’ championships in 2019, Mercedes established a new record with seven in 2020, claiming it at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix – while their seventh consecutive double championship (i.e. drivers’ and constructors’ in the same year) moved their existing record on even further. 5. Lewis Hamilton – Most consecutive points finishes (48) Slightly controversial one this. The annals will say that Hamilton established a new record of 48 points finishes between the 2018 British Grand Prix and the 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix – breaking his own previous record of 33 between the 2016 Japanese Grand Prix and the 2018 French Grand Prix – with that sequence then ended at the Sakhir Grand Prix given that Hamilton didn’t score. But as Hamilton was ruled out of, and therefore didn’t start, the Sakhir race due to contracting Covid-19, there’s an argument that his streak continued with his third place on his Abu Dhabi return, which would mean he was now on 49 not out. It’s a record, though, whichever way you cut it. 6. Mercedes – Most Grands Prix where a constructor led at least one lap (39) The 2020 Tuscan Grand Prix saw Mercedes surpass Williams’ record of 31 consecutive Grands Prix in which they led at least one lap – that Williams record
Buckle Up; Wear your Seatbelts
having stood for 23 years, ever since the 1997 San Marino Grand Prix. Mercedes would go on to establish a new record streak of 39 races at the Sakhir Grand Prix, before the run was ended by Max Verstappen’s lights-to-flag victory for Red Bull in Abu Dhabi. 7. Kimi Raikkonen – Most Grand Prix starts (329*)
Can you imagine the joy etched on Kimi Raikkonen’s face as he made his 323rd start at the Eifel Grand Prix, surpassing Rubens
Barrichello’s record to become F1’s most experienced ever driver? No, us neither.
his name, with the Finn booked in for at least another season with Alfa Romeo in 2021.
“Every record is going to be broken at some point… it makes no difference right now,” Raikkonen intoned to a disappointed media hungry for a quote from the Iceman ahead of the race, before chucking in a hopeful: “Maybe in the future, when I look back on things… I’ll look at it a bit differently.” That’s the spirit Kimi! Anyway, as of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Raikkonen has 329 starts to
Raikkonen became F1's most experienced ever driver with his 323rd start at the Eifel Grand Prix 8. Lewis Hamilton – Most podium finishes (165*) It seems only right to leave the last record to Hamilton, after another stellar year for the Briton. And it’s another Schumacher-related stat too, with Hamilton moving past the German’s record of 155
podium finishes with his victory at the 2020 Spanish Grand Prix – while Hamilton’s record at the end of the 2020 season stands at 165 podiums. And we think it’s fair to say that that record is likely to get stretched even further in 2021 – where Hamilton will also have the chance to surpass Schumacher’s record of 5,111 laps led, watched on by Schumacher’s son Mick, who’ll be on the grid with Haas. Hamilton’s only 12 laps shy, after all…
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MOTORING NEWS DECEMBER 2020
Industry News...
EQ-line of EVs coming Hear that gentle hum slowly rising to a steady whine? That's the forthcoming tsunami of German-developed electric vehicles rushing toward the horizon as part of a global push toward electrification. Across the board, it seems every German automaker is finally shaking the diesel soot from its boots and gearing up sales skirmishes against one another—alongside a fullfrontal assault on Tesla. As part of this rising wave, Mercedes-Benz just outlined its timetable for its EQ-line of EVs. While Mercedes-Benz's EQ sub-brand is technically already in production with the EQC, the company's latest push for EQ is centered around new EVs built on a bespoke platform (as opposed to the EQC's rejiggered GLC-Class bones), the first of which is already in production ahead of its January 20th debut. This will be our first look at the EQA, an electrified analog to the Mercedes-Benz GLAClass. Tailing this will be the EQB, an electric equivalent to the GLB-Class. Both EQA and EQB will share factory floor space with the GLA, GLB, and A-Class at MB's Rastatt plant in Germany. The Tesla Model S-baiting EQS is next on MB's EV list, and it conceptually occupies the space where an electric S-Class would be. Instead of gluing batteries to the existing S-Class, the EQ-only architecture gives way to a design closer inline with the CLS-Class and its four-door coupe-like looks. Production of this (presumably) handsome EV begins sometime in the first half of 2021. Not one to leave any Deutschmarks on the biergarten table, MB's smaller EQE arrives soon after the flagship EQS to stare down the Model 3 and Model S, fitting size-wise somewhere between both (and serving as the electric equivalent to the E-Class). Look for production to kick off some-
The Vision EQS from Metcedes time in the second half of 2021. If you—like many buyers—are more of an SUV or crossover person, then your interests may be piqued by the promised SUV variants of the EQE and EQS sedans. Serving as electron-expending paralleluniverse alternatives to the current GLE- and GLSClass SUVs. Both new high-riders arrive sometime in 2022 and exeunt through the double doors at MB's Tuscaloosa, Alabama plant. Not much is known about Merc's new leaner, greener EV lineup, other than what the automaker is willing to let slip. If we had to guess, we expect the ranges, charge times, and power to be close—but not match— the best that Tesla has to offer. Also, if the Neo Tokyovibes of the EQ brand isn't your thing, Mercedes already announced its intention to electrify or hybridize its AMG and Maybach subbrands, so expect a silent, instant-torque variant of your favourite Merc varietal in the near future. A growing number of car-
makers offer electrified transportation, and Mercedes-Benz enters the fray with the 2021 EQC. The EQC is a compact SUV that seats five, and it shares much of its body structure with the gas-powered GLCclass. Its fully electric pow-
ly deluxe, with high-gloss plastics, attractive textiles, and modern design. Though final EPA figures haven't been announced, early estimates place this SUV's driving range at around 200 miles, which is shorter than that of its
ry-SUV buyers. What's New for 2021? The Mercedes-Benz EQC is all new for the 2021 model year. The Mercedes-Benz EQC's Progressive trim comes with enough standard features to keep most luxury-SUV buy-
light into the cabin, and rain-sensing wipers are on hand to keep the windshield clear on stormy days. A power liftgate is also standard, along with LED headlights. Within the cabin, you'll find amenities such as heat-
Tesla-badged competition. Overall, the EQC's blend of Mercedes-Benz opulence and eco-friendly electrification make it an attractive pick for green-minded luxu-
ers happy, and it delivers this at a starting price that's lower than that of some rivals. All models come with asunroof that lets natural
ed seats and SiriusXM satellite radio. The more expensive Premium and Advanced levels add features such as a wireless device charger.
The Vision AVTR ertrain delivers quiet performance, along with the crisp acceleration that's part of the package with many luxury EVs. Its cabin looks appropriate-
MOTORING NEWS DECEMBER 2020
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Industry News...
Shock departure of F1 team boss Abiteboul Renault says F1 Team Principal Cyril Abiteboul is leaving the company, ahead of the team’s relaunch as Alpine for 2021. A long time Renault employee, Abiteboul has been in sole charge of the F1 team since 2017, but is now leaving the company altogether, following a shake-up by new CEO Luca de Meo, who joined from SEAT last year. Laurent Rossi, the Director of Strategy and Business Development of Groupe Renault, is taking over the new CEO of Alpine, which will also see him assume control of the F1 team, reporting to De Meo. “I would like to thank the Groupe Renault for having trusted me for many years, particularly with the relaunch and reconstruction
of the team since 2016. The solid foundations of the racing team and the entities in France and England built over these years, the strategic evolution of the sport towards a more economically sustainable model, and more recently the Alpine project which provides a renewed sense of meaning and dynamism, all point to a very fine trajectory “I would like to thank Luca de Meo for involving me in the construction of the Alpine Business Unit and I wish the new structure every success.” De Meo added: “I would like to warmly thank Cyril for his tireless involvement, which notably led the Renault F1 Team from the penultimate place in 2016 to the podiums last season. “His remarkable work in F1
Brivio named racing director
since 2007 allows us to look to the future, with a strong team and the new Alpine F1 Team identity to conquer the podiums this year.” Renault have not been able to reproduce the title-winning success they enjoyed in the mid-2000s since rejoining F1 as a full constructor in 2016, though they did finally make it back on to the podium in 2020 with three top three finishes between Daniel Ricciardo and Esteban Ocon. Fernando Alonso is rejoining the Enstone-based outfit for this season, replacing Ricciardo, who moves to McLaren, as Renault swap their name and yellow colours for Alpine and blue, red and white of the French flag.
The reorganisation of Renault's Formula 1 operation – to be known as Alpine from this season – continued this weekend as Davide Brivio was named as Racing Director of the team. Brivio, who has a long record of success in MotoGP with Yamaha and most recently Suzuki, had been linked with a switch to F1 ever since he quit his role with the Japanese manufacturer earlier this month. Alpine confirmed the news in a short statement that read: "We are delighted to confirm Davide Brivio will strengthen our team ahead of the 2021 FIA Formula One World Championship season. "His specific role and responsibilities will be announced in the coming weeks. Davide will report to the Alpine CEO Laurent Rossi. Davide joins the Alpine F1 Team with a wealth of experience and success following more than 20 years in the MotoGP World Championship.We look forward to welcoming Davide as we start the next stage of our Formula 1 journey." The news comes just days after Renault announced the shock departure of Team Principal Cyril Abiteboul, ahead of the outfit's rebrand as Alpine for this season, with new company CEO Luca de Meo instigating a major shake-up that sees Laurent Rossi, previously the Director of Strategy and Business Development of Groupe Renault, taking over as the new CEO of Alpine, with overall control of the F1 team. As well as a change in leadership at the top, Alpine will also have a new driver line-up in 2021 with Fernando Alonso returning to the team where he won his two world championship titles to partner Esteban Ocon, following Daniel Ricciardo's switch to McLaren.
Team Principal Cyril Abiteboul leaving Renault.
Page 22
MOTORING NEWS DECEMBER 2020
F1 News ....
Hamilton voted #1
Seven times F1 champion Lewis Hamilton
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton has been collecting accolades left right and centre in 2020 – and he’ll need to clear room in his trophy cabinet for one more, as F1’s team principals have voted him their number one driver of the year. The ten team principals were asked to submit their list of the top 10 drivers of the year, under the proviso their individual ranking would remain anonymous. Drivers were given scores based on the current F1 points system – 25 for the top driver down to one for 10th in each list – and then those scores were combined to create a ranking. For the second successive year, Verstappen – winner of the final race of the sea-
son in Abu Dhabi - finished runner up to Hamilton, despite having failed to beat Valtteri Bottas to that position in the drivers’ championship. Charles Leclerc completed the podium, as he did in 2019, only this result is more impressive given he did not take a single victory or pole position, but instead earned praise for outperforming a very disappointing Ferrari. Daniel Ricciardo came in at fourth, one place higher than his position in the drivers’ standings, the Australian giving Renault two podiums before he heads for McLaren next year. Sergio Perez, currently without a drive for next year, was fifth, having claimed the first victory of
his career after nearly 200 Grand Prix starts. George Russell may have failed to score any points for Williams, but his form in the back-of-the-grid car, coupled with his stunning stand-in performance for Mercedes when Hamilton tested positive for Covid-19, has earned him a top-six spot in the eyes of team bosses. McLaren duo Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz are next up, the team mates pushing each other hard all season, which in turn was a key factor in the team taking third in the constructors’ championship – their best finish since 2012. Bottas pushed Hamilton hard early in the season, before his championship threat evaporated.
The Finn scrapes into the top 10 in ninth, level on points with Pierre Gasly who had his best season yet and scored his maiden victory. The Team Principals who took part in the vote (in alphabetical order) were: Cyril Abiteboul, Christian Horner, Simon Roberts, Andreas Seidl, Guenther Steiner, Otmar Szafnauer, Franz Tost, Fred Vasseur and Toto Wolff.
Safety first, wear your seatbelt
Auto & Commercial Guide
MOTORING NEWS DECEMBER 2020
Page 23
Days of Motorsport
Date
Event
Venue
Barbados Rally Club Dec. 6
BRCWinter Rally
Dec. 13
Islandwide
BRC Autocross Champ’ship Bushy Park Motoring Club B’dos Inc
Dec.5
Speed event
Oughterson to Sunbury
B‘dos Auto Racing League Nov 15
Time Attack
Bushy Park
MudDogs Safari Championship Nov 14 -
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Barbados Karting Association Nov 8
Karting Race Day
Bushy Park
B’dos Association of Dragsters & Drifters TBA
Drag Racing
Bushy Park
Bushy Park Motor Sport Inc Nov 15
Race Meeting (BARL & BPMSI) Vaucluse Motorsport Raceway Club
Call 424-4798
Digital maps of Barbados for Garmin GPS receivers. Available from Atlantic Computers.
The Courtesy Garage RPM Report Wednesdays at 12:45 pm only on 98.1 The One.
Nassco BRC MudDogs Safari
Nov 28 Nov 29/30
RallySprint (VRMSC) – Vaucluse Raceway Rallycross (VRMSC) – Vaucluse Raceway
Guyana Motor Racing & Sports Car Club Nov. 8
Int race meet
Temeri
NACAM Rally Championship 2020 Nov 26/27
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Rally Colima (Tarmac)
Mexico
Formula 1 Nov. 13-15 Nov. 29 Dec. 3-6
Grand Prix of Turkey Bahrain Grand Prix Sakhir Grand Prix,
Turkey Sakhir Sakhir
World Rally Championship Nov. 15 -18
Rally Australia
Australia
OR O RI N OTORING OTO O TOR RIN NG G TO R IN M eews w Neew News N New wss
COMPREHENSIVE COMP
INFORMATIVE
UNBIASED
Over 50 events on BMF 2021 calendar
Barbados WI
Apart from the unknowns that will remain until the coronavirus pandemic is under control, motorsport clubs in Barbados will be better informed and ready to deal with 2021. That is the feeling of the Vice-President of the Barbados Motoring Federation (BMF) Mark Hamilton. He was commenting on the composition of the 2021 motorsport calendar which lists more than 50 events spread across the seven member clubs of the federation which will get the attention of local,
regional and international drivers and co-drivers this year. The calendar is made up of a broad cross-section of motor sport disciplines, from grass-roots autocrosses and karting events to circuit racing, drag racing, off-road 4x4 navigational safaris, rallycrosses, rallysprints, special stage rallies and speed events. After a year in which many events were either cancelled or postponed as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, the motor sport community along with the membership other disciplines, are hoping
Bds. $1.00
that the effects of Covid-19 will start to abate early in the new year. “If 2020 has taught us anything, it is to acknowledge our ability as a motor sport fraternity to adapt, to make the best of the environment and to plan events around unique challenges, and to do so in a responsible manner. I am confident that the clubs, with the recently gained experience, are much better informed and ready to deal with 2021, notwithstanding the unknowns that will remain until the coronavirus pandemic is under control,” Hamilton added.
Published by Motoring News, 3 Tranquility Drive, Green Point, St. Philip, Barbados,West Indies:
ENTERTAINING ENTER TA AINING AININ DECEMBER 2020
Page 24
Vice president of the Barbados Motoring Federation (BMF) Mark Hamilton.
And the top motoring official said too, that the recent news on the various vaccines becoming available and the positive effect of the protocols put in place by Government, will no doubt place Barbados in a good position to benefit from increased travel opportunities for those who want to participate from overseas, facilitate an improved environment on the ground for local competitors and spectators, while at the same time fostering a slow return to normalcy during 2021, in all aspects of Barbadian life. “In our view, these important factors will allow for a
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gradual return of both the smaller events supported primarily by local competitors, as well the larger events which attract additional regional and international entrants”, he noted. The 2021 motorsport calendar which will run under permits issued by the BMF includes a number of regional and international events, attracting overseas visitors to the island and will start with a karting race day of the Barbados Karting Association (BKA) on February 7 and end on December 5 with a BRC Autocross at Bushy Park. The highlight of the calendar will no doubt be Sol
Rally Barbados on June 5 & 6 which will be preceeded by the Rally Show on May 29 and Flow King of the Hill the following day. All three events organised by the Barbados Rally Club (BRC). The other events down for decision on the 2021 calendar will be made up of events organised by the Barbados Association of Dragsters & Drifters (BADD); Barbados Auto Racing League (BARL); Bushy Park Motor Sports Inc (BPMSI); the Motoring Club Barbados Incorporated (MCBI) and the Vaucluse Raceway Motorsports Club (VRMSC), the other member clubs of the BMF.
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