After three days of grueling, edge-of-your-seat competition on Barbados’ challenging rally stages, Stuart Maloney and co-driver Kristian Yearwood have clinched the top spot at BCIC Rally Barbados 2026, securing a hard-won ten-second victory over defending champions Kyle Gregg and Kreigg Yearwood this Sunday.
The win marks one of the most compelling comeback stories in the event’s recent history. Just 12 months prior, Maloney walked away from a devastating high-speed crash that cut his 2025 rally short and left both him and Yearwood sidelined as they recovered physically and mentally. Even Gregg, the title holder, overcame his own setback ahead of the 2026 race: a collision at the First Citizens King of the Hill event on May 24 that forced his team to rush repairs to get his car race-ready.
Driving a finely tuned Skoda Fabia RS Rally2, Maloney and Yearwood held off a relentless late charge from the defending champions to cross the finish line first. In a post-race interview with motorsport journalist Hollie McRae, an emotional Maloney shared what the title meant to him after his 2025 crash. “I can’t put this feeling into words,” he said. “It’s so special, especially coming off what happened last year. Finding the confidence to get back behind the wheel and lead the field for most of the race was incredible. Kristian trusted me to get back in the car after I let him down last year, and that support made all the difference. This is a phenomenal result for both of us, and I couldn’t be happier.”
Yearwood echoed his driver’s elation, pointing to the team’s resilience as the key to their victory. “Twelve months ago, we couldn’t even move after that crash,” he recalled. “To be standing here on the top step of the podium is a true testament to how hard every single person on this team worked to get us back here. I’m so grateful to everyone who supported us through our recovery.”
Despite falling just short of a repeat title, Gregg remained gracious in defeat, proud of his team’s effort to bounce back from his pre-race crash. “It’s been one hell of a week, and finishing first would have been the perfect story,” he acknowledged. “But Stuart drove flawlessly today. We clawed our way back to within five seconds at one point, so we gave it everything we had. I pushed as hard as I could yesterday to make up time after a slow first special stage, and the car held up perfectly. Full credit to Maloney and Yearwood.”
Kreigg Yearwood, Gregg’s co-driver, also framed the second-place finish as a personal win after the team’s early setback. “Hats off to Kyle for pulling off such an amazing drive this weekend, especially getting back in the right headspace after that crash to finish second,” he said. “We had a small stall on Friday night that cost us a little time, but even without that, it was a steady drive, and we’re thrilled to be back on the podium.”
Rounding out the top three was father-son duo Mark and Justin Maloney, who turned a lighthearted pre-event moment into inspiration for their podium finish. “I remember when reporters were interviewing all the top drivers at King of the Hill a few weeks back, we were hanging back in the team tent, and I joked that you’d only talk to us when we were up front,” Mark Maloney recalled after the race. “That joke stuck with me, and here we are. It’s been an awesome rally. I have to thank my son and co-driver Justin; we’ve been doing this together for years, and everything clicked perfectly this weekend, even with the blistering pace out on the stages.”
In the two-wheel drive category, Barry Mayers and co-driver Moishe Steinbok claimed the class win with an 11th-place overall finish. “It was a long, tough weekend, and I’m just shocked the car made it through in one piece,” Mayers said. “I had a great fight this morning with Declan from Ireland – that guy is seriously quick – so I’m just happy we came out of it in one piece and with the class win.”