European cars in Bridgetown Port
Reigning 'King of the
Carnival', Austrian Ernst Harrach, will return to defend his title at
this year's fifth Barbados Rally Carnival, which opens with the
Vaucluse Raceway International RallySprint on May 21/22. His Porsche
911 was among the European entries which docked at the Bridgetown Port
early Friday morning (May 6) aboard the Geest Line freighter Santa
Lucia.
The Austrian proved a force to be reckoned with from the first
weekend of last year's competition; his victory in the Group Winners'
Handicap KnockOut at the Total Sport International SuperSprint at Bushy
Park - where his energetic driving style made him an instant crowd
favourite - gave him an early edge in the chase for the Carnival King
title.
The following weekend, he was dominant in the historic class in
Rally Barbados 2004 from the start, sealing victory, and finishing an
impressive 17th overall.
Harrach was Austrian Rally Champion in 1991 - a title since won by
his 25-year-old son - and was a top 10 finisher on five occasions in
World Championship events. On his first visit to Barbados last year, he
arrived with fellow-countryman Josef Pointinger as his co-driver . . .
and that was a good choice. Pointinger and his wife Gertrude had
contested the previous year's Rally Carnival in their World Cup Rally
replica Ford Escort MkI, and Pointinger had won the Sunbeach
International RallySprint at the Vaucluse Raceway.
Harrach and Pointinger will be reunited with the red and white 1973
260 horsepower Porsche in about 10 days' time, when they arrive on a
Virgin Atlantic Boeing 747-400 from London Gatwick, along with the
other European crews and their supporters, plus an enlarged media
contingent.
The passenger manifest on that flight will also include multiple
Scottish champion Kenny Hall, who is back for his fourth visit to the
Barbados Rally Carnival . . . and he, too, returns to defend a title,
having won the Modified 5 class on RB04 at his fourth attempt.
Garage owner Hall, who rallies a self-built Suzuki-engined Vauxhall
Corsa, backed by tartan manufacturer Lochcarron of Scotland and Simpson
Motors, is looking forward to his return. He is also quick at the
Vaucluse Raceway, and has been a class-winner in the International
RallySprint, so he would like to return home with a few more trophies
to add to the 70 or so he has won in the UK.
One thing has changed for him this year, however, as he arrives
with a new co-driver, replacing Colin Smith, with whom he won the Group
last year . . . but his new ace on the pace notes, Dutch co-driver
Fenny Wesselink, also has some Bajan experience. She was last in
Barbados two years ago as co-driver to Wim Wermink, whose historic red
Opel Ascona also proved a popular car with local motor sport
enthusiasts.
Barbados Rally Carnival founder Greg Cozier said: "I am always
pleased to welcome back drivers who found that Carnival offers them
something they cannot find in Europe, in terms of competition and fun .
. . and we now have more than one returning for the third, fourth or
fifth year.
"It is especially good to see those who have enjoyed success here
before coming back to defend their titles; I am particularly pleased
that Ernst is travelling all the way from Austria to defend the King of
the Carnival title - he proved not only a determined competitor, but
also a very popular winner . . . and certainly taught a few of us
youngsters a thing or two. And Kenny has always entered into the spirit
of Carnival in every sense, both in his car and out. We could not wish
to have two more popular competitors return."
