THE WRC RESTRICTION, WHAT'S THE END GAME?

In 2018, the Barbados Rally Club approved new rules and regulations to its classes for 2019 to 2021. One of the most notable changes was the inclusion of the R5 class. This group is seen as the way forward and there seems to be a collective approach to embrace it. Further reinforcing this position was to disqualify any World Rally Cars manufactured after 2008 from competing. While this particular rule raised a few eyebrows initially, it was all well and good. Within the last few weeks- and especially the last couple of days, this rule has been brought sharply into focus.

Within the last three weeks, pictures and footage of Tom Preston’s newly acquired 2016 Ford Fiesta WRC circulated on social media. Yes, that Tom Preston. Having thrilled local fans with his maximum attack driving in his Skoda Fabia R5 during Sol Rally Barbados in 2018 and 2019, the Englishman traded up for a new toy. Initially the responses were full of awe and excitement at the new acquisition, then reality hit like the clunk of first gear of a sequential gearbox being engaged on the start line: it doesn’t fit within our regulations here in Barbados. Preston weighed in on the topic saying “I’d come back if the rules change.” Oh, before you say “’But he’s just one driver.” Pump the brakes on that for a second.

Fellow Englishman (and honourary Bajan) Rob Swann, has backed Tom Preston’s play. Swann has shown intense commitment to the island’s motorsport product, even going as far as leaving his Subaru Impreza S12B WRC here in 2018 in order to contest the full Barbados Rally Club calendar of events. Swann spoke with resolve and steely determination after a disappointing exit in Sol Rally Barbados 2019, but no one was prepared for what was revealed shortly after. Swann is leaning in the direction of acquiring a 2016 Ford Fiesta WRC as well. As a matter of fact, he’s also done some testing in one. He said “I’m just waiting on confirmation of the WRC rules for Sol Rally Barbados 2020.” Swann was favourite to win Sol Rally Barbados this year, but was cruelly robbed of the chance by engine failure. Imagine him (and others) in more recent machinery. Speaking of others: back in 2017 at the end of the Historic Rally Jeffrey Panton mentioned in an interview with us that Ford Fiesta WRC was the logical choice for him to step up to. A rule change just might make that decision easier. It would be quite the spectacle, wouldn’t it?

There’s one other perspective of this issue that needs to be highlighted: the spectator. Cast your minds back to 2001. World Rally Cars weren’t classified for local events. That was until Chris Mellors brought his Ford Escort Cosworth WRC for the Texaco All Stage Rally. Mellors competed in Group B due to the rules, but seeing that car in the flesh started a hunger in spectators for more big juice, and it’s been insatiable since then. Seeing the R5 cars is all well and good. Their braking and handling is superb and they do sound lovely. Let’s not kid ourselves though, they are no substitute for a modern World Rally Car. It’s also not enough to have a modern spec car, you have to be able to drive it accordingly. Tom Preston and Rob Swann can definitely do those cars justice. In the same token that the R5 class has been ratified locally and we’ve seen entries in the class, why can’t it be safe to assume that we would see more modern WRCs if the post-2008 ban was lifted?

The next six months will be pivotal for the local rallying landscape. The very idea of seeing a Hyundai i20, Ford Fiesta, Citroen C3 or even a Volkswagen Polo in the WRC class (in whatever new classification the group is laid out) is tantalizing. With two drivers already showing their intent and asking for a rule change, more are sure to follow suit. Some argue that rallying has stagnated a bit, and this new crop of cars would breathe a bit of life into the product. On the other side of the coin, some are against another “arms race” from occurring. Rumour has it that talks are already ongoing in order to bring a renewed final decision on the WRC endgame. If you had the final say on it, where would your vote be cast: keep the ban on post-2008 World Rally Cars or remove the ban and welcome more big power? I know where I’d be throwing my support.