Kerry Rally Teams Gear Up for Barbados Showdown

Kerry Rally Teams Gear Up for Barbados Showdown
Thirty-five rally cars, in the largest-ever single shipment from Europe, have set sail from Portsmouth, England, aboard the Geest Line freighter Lombok Strait, bound for the sunny shores of Barbados and the highly anticipated BCIC Rally Barbados 2025.

A dedicated group of 15 regular overseas participants put in a 12-hour shift assisting dockside staff to carefully load their prized rally machines.

Among those making the journey are Kerry competitors Martin Quirke and John Hurley, who will be cheered on by a strong contingent of 22 supporters from Tralee.

As the Caribbean’s biggest motor sport international, BCIC Rally Barbados 2025 draws closer, teams from overseas are finalizing their preparations for the Barbados Rally Club’s premier event.

For Mick Smith, this year marks his third Barbadian rally, and he’ll have his third different co-driver, Charlotte Mcglashan. Notably, Charlotte will celebrate her 18th birthday just two days after the rally concludes. Having gained experience navigating for her stepfather Mark Chandler last year, she has further honed her skills in the UK, including co-driving for Smith’s close friend Ian Barclay, who is also returning to compete.

Smith’s choice of co-driver aligns with a new initiative from the London Irish Motor Club, of which he is chairman, aimed at encouraging more young people, particularly girls, to get involved in the sport. With a distinguished 40-year rallying career under his belt, encompassing Sunbeam Tis, Hillman Avengers, and the Rover Metro GTi Challenge, Smith boasts an impressive record of championship, overall, and class victories. He recently showcased his Imp on the demonstration stage at RaceRetro in the British Midlands.

Making their debut trip to Barbados are Kerry natives Martin Quirke and John Hurley, accompanied by their 22-strong group of friends and family. For co-driver Hurley and his wife Tracy, the trip holds extra significance as they plan to renew their wedding vows during their stay.

“There will be 18 adults and four kids travelling to Barbados: driver, navigator, service manager, four crew, wives, children and partners . . . and the grand kids,” explains Hurley, a theatre lighting and projection designer. He and Tracy were married on the beach at Bougainvillea Beach Resort in January 2008, just five days after he surprised her with a proposal upon their arrival on the island.

Tyre centre owner Quirke and Hurley will compete in the SuperModified 1 class in a Talbot Sunbeam powered by a 1.6-litre Toyota 16-valve engine. Quirke has a strong history of podium finishes, including a class win in the West Coast Championship in 2003. His son Kenneth has also tasted success, claiming class wins in the Cork 20 International last year and the Rally of the Lakes in 2023 in the same Sunbeam, supported by Kingdom Fast Fit, InFocus Lighting & Projection Design, Glenco Contracting, Quirke’s Garage, McKenna Motorsport, Griffin Crash Repair, and Nexus Building & Civil Engineering.

BCIC RB25 will take place from Friday, May 30 to Sunday, June 1. The preceding weekend (May 24/25) will feature the Auto & Rally Show, where all entered cars are displayed, and the First Citizens King of the Hill, a final shakedown and seeding event.

Rally Barbados is a tarmac rally consisting of approximately 20 special stages run on the island’s intricate network of public roads under road closure orders. The King of the Hill event on the Sunday before the rally offers four timed runs on a roughly four-kilometre stage, with the results determining the starting order for the main event.

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