Dates set for Rally Barados 2017
continued
Michael Fennell Jnr (Ford Focus WRC06) claimed their second consecutive win and the third for Panton, who had been the event’s first regional winner in 1998.
Island legend and 13-time winner Roger Skeete, co-driven in his Subaru Impreza WRC S12B by Louis Venezia, finished second, with Evans and Parry third, after two-time European Rally Champions Simon Jean-Joseph and Jack Boyere of Martinique retired from second place on Sunday morning after their Focus WRC08 suffered diff failure.
Among the 81 overseas participants, there were 31 new to the event and a record-equalling 16 female competitors. Combining the 2016 statistics with those of previous years, the event has now hosted more than 450 overseas participants, who have travelled from 29 countries. The biggest competitor base remains the UK and Ireland, but competitors have come from as far afield as Australia, Canada, Japan, Kenya, New Zealand, South Africa and the United States, as well as mainland Europe.
Hamilton added: “While we had expected a peak in interest for Sol RB15, as it marked the event’s 25th Anniversary, carrying that increased level of support through to this year was a real bonus. New names enquiring about the dates in recent weeks would suggest there are still a lot of competitors out there who see Sol Rally Barbados as a must-do event, but haven’t made it yet. We look forward to welcoming them.”