Jamaica’s Gregg, Panton for Rally Barbados 2023
JAMAICA WILL have two of the island’s best drivers competing at this year’s Sol Rally Barbados as many-time circuit champion Kyle Gregg will join former Rally Barbados champion Jeffrey Panton at the three-day tarmac event set for June 9-11.
Gregg will be competing in the FIA R5 class in his recently acquired Rally 2 Ford Fiesta along with Barbadian co-driver Orry Hunte. Panton will also compete in the very competitive R5 class in his Rally 2 Skoda Fabia along with long-time co-driver Michael Fennell.
The R5 class also features hot favourite and home town driver Zane Maloney, who will also be in a Skoda Fabia ,while former three-time F3 champion Haydon Paddon out of New Zealand will be parading his Hyundai I20 around the 20 special stages.
More than 45 overseas entrants in a total field of 85 cars will take part this year, with the King of
the Hill sprint event kick-starting proceedings on June 3.
For Gregg, the 2023 Sol Rally Barbados will be his second event after competing in 2016, where he had gearbox problems.
The former Rally Trinidad champion Gregg is looking to follow in the footsteps of his father Gary Gregg, who won Rally Barbados back in 2006.
“This will be my second time in the car and I believe it can win. What is going to be important is me keeping the car on the road, as rallying is not about who is the fastest, but who keeps the car on the road and completes all the stages,” said Gregg.
Gregg and Panton will face stiff competition from the four WRC (World Rally Cars) that are also competing, with Scotland’s
Andy Scott and Englishman Kevin Proctor set to lay it down in their Ford Fiesta S2000T.
The other WRC cars will be Scotsman Fraser Louden’s Mitsubishi Lancer Evo Proto and Barbadian Dane Skeete in his Subaru Impreza S12.
For Gregg, the R5 class could spring a surprise on the big WRC boys come June 11.
“The WRC cars do have the power advantage, but the R5’s pace can put it down; and also, you have to factor that the R5 cars are lighter, and break and corner better.”
The 33rd running of the Barbados Rally Club’s premier event will start with the floodlit Sol Super Special at Bushy Park Barbados on Friday, June 9. After two days of action in the northern and eastern parishes, the event will finish with the Honda Super Special on Sunday back at the St Philip facility.