The Barbados Rally Club (BRC) MudDogs March Safari marks its highly anticipated return on March 8th, signaling the commencement of the 2026 Chefette MudDogs Safari Championship after a four-month winter hiatus. This inaugural round sets the stage for an intense five-round championship extending through November, featuring a competitive field of eight crews evenly composed of veteran contenders and emerging newcomers.
In Class A, the competition escalates with top-tier drivers including the formidable father-son partnership of Stephen and Ben Moore. They will confront formidable opponents such as Ben Norris and Kirk Watkins, piloting a Jeep Rubicon—a team that has secured second place in the MudDogs year-end standings three times since 2019. The class is further strengthened by Christopher King with Warrick Eastmond in a Suzuki Jimny, and the reigning Class B Champion Driver Alexander Gill, now teamed with Gary Mendes in an Isuzu DMax.
Class B showcases a compelling rivalry between George Mendes and Johnathan King in a Suzuki Vitara against Charles Clarke and Austin Barber in a Mitsubishi Pajero. This matchup is intensified by Mendes’ previous tie-break victory over Clarke to claim the 2024 Champion Driver title. Adding fresh dynamics to the class are two relatively new crews, both featuring female navigators: Nadcarnie Cyrus, guided by 2024 Class B Champion Navigator Leslie Evanson in a Range Rover Classic, and Jaden Eastmond in a Nissan Frontier, partnered with first-time navigator Trislyn St Hill.
Ricky Holder, MudDogs Chairman, expressed optimism for the new season: ‘Everyone is looking forward to getting started again after the long winter break. We extend special gratitude to Chefette, now in their 17th year of supporting MudDogs and 13th as title sponsor, and to Ace H & B Hardware for hosting the start and providing prizes. The entry list is robust with previous Safari winners and Class B Champions from the last three years, and it’s particularly encouraging to see new participants. We wish everyone good luck.’
The event logistics promise a demanding challenge. Crews will depart from Ace H & B Hardware in Warrens, St Michael, at 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, navigating two meticulously designed routes by Wayne Clarke. The morning segment, approximately 45 kilometres, incorporates two Driver Challenges: the first on the south side of the Vaucluse Raceway in St Thomas around 8 a.m., followed by a second at Manor Farms, Clifton, two hours later. A lunchtime halt is scheduled for approximately 11:00 a.m. at Chefette, Charles Rowe Bridge, St George.
The afternoon presents a more grueling 80-kilometre route, featuring a third Driver Challenge back at Vaucluse Raceway before guiding crews north through the parishes of St Joseph, St Peter, and St Lucy. The journey concludes at Chefette Speightstown around 5 p.m. Official results will be announced at the Prizegiving ceremony scheduled for 7 p.m. on March 10 at Savvy on the Bay.