A Ride With The Entertainment Officer
- May 23, 2024
- 3 min read
As the sun started to set towards the end of the BCIC Rally Barbados press conference, I was preparing myself for another unique experience. A 103 car entry list, reversal of the Saturday and Sunday stages and 3 stages to start the Friday night. What else could make this any better? How about a couple of laps alongside the Entertainment Officer himself, Ahmed Esuf.
Another passenger ride along? Yes. Once again, I was pleasantly surprised by this additional component to the press conference. This is not going to be what you think. I'm not going to compare last year's drive with Stuart Maloney in his Skoda Fabia Rally 2 Evo with Ahmed's BMW M3. The cars and driving styles of the drivers are poles apart. What is consistent with both of them however, is that they are extremely good at what they do. Why do I say that? Quite simply, they make it look totally effortless from the inside of the car.
As the harness on the co-driver's seat was being buckled, I was buzzing with anticipation. I was keeping an open mind and focusing on purely enjoying the moment...not to mention making sure I got footage this time! This year, the National Circuit layout of the track was being used for the passenger rides. This couldn't be more perfect as the sequences of cambered flowing corners extend an invitation to be drifted through. After a pre-shenanigans selfie, we were on our way. Trundling onto the track, a quick stamp on the gas and then a brake check...one tug of the handbrake and the Entertainment Officer was in his element. A boot full of throttle, opposite lock and the M3's engine roars to life. Two upshifts, each accompanied by the explosions from the spark cut flatshift. It's getting busy in the cockpit. One downshift, quick turn in, throttle, countersteer, lift, turn in, countersteer into a very long drift, upshift to third, sideways again and we're onto the front straight. Not at full chat, though. This isn't a stampede. This is a ballet and Ahmed is making his M3 glide effortlessly. We cruise through the MQI Bullet and are about to enter the Digicel Hammer...sideways again. A short straight and then through the next 3 corners (Shak Shak and the Courtesy Dipper) we are fully sideways. Lap number 2 is underway and Ahmed goes further into his bag. Carrying more speed now, but his inputs don't lack any precision. I turn my head to watch him work. Remember what I said earlier about him making it look easy? Yeah...that was no exaggeration. Into the Banks Esses we go.Throttle modulation and countersteer seemingly occuring purely on Ultra Instinct with a couple upshifts to bring us through the Sesash Haipin and the Banks Cyclone The direction changes while sideways are just poetic. I knew I was coming to the end but would there be anything to punctuate this experience? You bet. Ahmed did the only thing any worthy Entertainment Officer would do....sign out with donuts. Tire smoke surrounded us as we pirouetted to bring the Sideways M3 Ballet to a close.
Once again, on the eve of the most wonderful time of the year, the hype is real and the rally fever has taken hold of me. Before I sign off though, let me thank the Barbados Rally Club, Bushy Park Barbados, Ahmed Esuf and the Esuf Racing Team for the wonderful experience and another bucket list item achieved. Now when I say team, I truly mean it. Sure, it wasn't an actual "event" but their approach to making sure the car was ready and passengers were comfortably and securely situated in the car was nothing short of outstanding. I can't wait for the next two weekends. We have all of the ingredients for an epic BCIC Rally Barbados. Let it cook.
Video of the experience.
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