The Barbados Rally Club’s (BRC) Shakedown Stages this Sunday will witness defending champion Jeff Panton commencing his title defense against a significantly transformed competitive landscape. The two-time Rally2 titleholder, who clinched last year’s championship by a narrow two-point margin over Jamaican rival Kyle Gregg, now confronts an influx of both international newcomers and returning local legends.
This year’s Rally2 category showcases remarkable depth and diversity. Britain’s Rob Swann, who secured third place last season in his Skoda Fabia Rally2 evo, returns alongside three newly confirmed international entrants for BCIC Rally Barbados 2026. The category gains substantial experience with the additions of former local class champions Brian Gill and Mark Thompson. Gill, who twice won the BRC Group N title in the early 2000s before returning in a BMW M3 after many years absent, now pilots the ex-Mark Maloney Skoda Fabia Rally2 evo.
Thompson, known for consistently challenging Rally2 and WRC competitors in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX, makes his highly anticipated debut in the ex-Paul Horton Citroen C3 Rally2. Meanwhile, rising star Adam Mallalieu, who celebrates his 22nd birthday this week, demonstrates formidable potential with his new Ford Fiesta Rally2 machinery. The former Caribbean junior karting champion recently claimed his first Rally2 victory at the Vaucluse Raceway Motorsport Club double-header just ten days after his new vehicle arrived on the island.
The 2024 champion Josh Read, now fully acclimated to his ex-Osian Pryce Fiesta Rally2 after missing last season’s start, remains a strong contender following his recent performance where he and Panton were separated by merely three-hundredths of a second at the Motoring Club Barbados Inc’s Spring Blaze 26.
Completing the impressive roster is Stuart Maloney, the inaugural R5 crown winner in 2022, who returns despite not rallying on the island since retiring from BCIC RB25. He has demonstrated strong form with second and fifth place finishes at Brands Hatch and Donington Park in the UK’s Circuit Rally Championship. His brother Mark has upgraded to a Fabia RS Rally2 similar to Stuart’s, which has been completely re-shelled following an accident.
BMF Vice-President and Sport and Championship coordinator David Williams noted: ‘This year represents a changing of the guard. We extend our gratitude to Stan Hartling, his son Ben, and Paul Horton of the Turks & Caicos Rally Team for their longstanding support of this championship and island motorsport.’
Notably absent this year is Senator Andrew Mallalieu, who has retired from competitive sport after 45 years following injuries sustained in an accident during BCIC RB25. He and co-driver Geoff Goddard have decided to focus exclusively on sports development.
Provisional 2026 R5/Rally2 entries feature an international field including competitors from Jamaica, England, and the United States, ensuring one of the most competitive seasons in Barbados rally history.