TEN DAYS : Historic 2

Old school, rear wheel drive, naturally aspirated, no electronic wizardry. A rally purist’s dream. That also happens to be the theme running through the Historic 2 class for Sol Rally Barbados. Sure, we’ve been spoiled by sequential gearboxes, spark cut flat shift, wastegate chatter and antilag, but how can you resist the nostalgia of seeing an Escort Mki or MkII (preferably sideways) in pretty much the same condition as it was in its heyday?

Greg Cozier is the man to beat in this group, without a doubt. He’s undeniably quick and drives his Escort MkII the way any rally fan, purist or otherwise would appreciate. Greg will be looking to defend home turf as well as group honours. Wayne Archer is another local driver who’s in contention for a class win. After finishing second to Cozier last year, can Wayne take his BMW 325 one notch higher and take the win? England’s Raymond Clough is one to watch as well. His Ford Escort MkI took him to a group win in 2016, and he’ll be hoping for a repeat of that this year around. England’s Sean Kukula is another member of the overseas contingent looking to take top spot. Having placed second in 2016 behind Raymond Clough, Kukula will be looking to reverse that order and put his Ford Escort MkII on the top step.

Image Courtesy Nicholas Bhajan Rally Photography

Harold Morley is set to enter the fray of Historic 2. He’ll be driving a Porsche 911 RSR. Will he be on the pace with the front runners or will he have to play catch up? Local elder statesman John Corbin will be driving his ever reliable Toyota Corolla. Consistency is his M.O. and we can expect that to continue for Sol Rally Barbados. England’s Chris Shooter is looking to better his fifth place finish in 2015. His vehicle of choice is a Ford Escort MkII. Can he take his fight to the front runners? Dave Jenkins will be making his Sol Rally Barbados debut, so too will his car. He’ll be bringing over his Ford Escort MkII, complete with 2.0 BDG engine and a stunning black and gold livery. Jenkins is a vastly experienced competitor, can he adapt quickly to local conditions?

This is definitely another group to watch. Impressive old school machinery and the promise of some sideways corner exits are part of the rally fan’s ideal situation. Will we see an upset in this group? No matter what happens, the drivers in this group are sure to entertain.