Josh Read and Mark Jordan delivered a masterclass in strategic rally driving, securing a calculated victory in the Barbados Rally Club’s (BRC) Shakedown Stages this Sunday. The duo piloted their Ford Fiesta Rally2 to a precise two-second triumph, establishing an early psychological advantage for the upcoming BCIC Rally Barbados 2026. Despite not setting the fastest times on every stage, their consistent performance from the second of nine special stages proved decisive.
The event, which concluded with a prizegiving ceremony at the Conrad Hunte Cricket Ground in St. Andrew, saw Read emphasize the multifaceted challenge of winning Rally Barbados. ‘The stages were challenging, especially Pickerings with the amount of gravel on the road, but we kept out of trouble. My confidence is good. A lot of things need to be right to win Rally Barbados; we need to be fast, consistent and reliable,’ he stated.
Defending BCIC RB25 champions Kyle Gregg and Kreigg Yearwood, also in a Fiesta Rally2, led initially but were hampered by a power delivery issue. After a strong afternoon charge that included three stage wins, they managed to claw their way back to a commendable second place. ‘We were much sharper after lunch and I’m glad the trouble came in the Shakedown,’ remarked a philosophical Gregg.
The rally was not without drama for other top contenders. Two-time winners Dane Skeete and Tyler Mayhew (Subaru Impreza WRC S12) mounted an impressive recovery from 44th place after a disastrous opening stage, only to retire late due to mechanical woes. Adam Mallalieu, who was poised for a podium finish in his new Fiesta Rally2, suffered a final-stage excursion that dropped him to fifth.
This misfortune promoted the BCIC RB24 winning duo of Stuart Maloney and Kristian Yearwood (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) to third, a significant confidence boost following their heavy accident in last year’s event. Maloney described the day as a ‘block building’ exercise, expressing satisfaction with their progress and pace.
The event also served as a crucial testing ground under new central service regulations for the 2026 rally, placing greater emphasis on vehicle reliability. Of the 47 starters, 16 failed to finish, underscoring the demanding nature of the competition and setting the stage for an intensely competitive main event.