Offical Barbados Rally Partnership Signed With Colin McRae Vision

London, July 13, 2010: Just before Historic rallying action starts on the motorsport-mad island of Barbados, Carnival organisers announce the event's partnership with the Colin McRae Vision charity.

An apt arrangement, entirely in keeping with the Carnival's tenth anniversary and evolution to a more-affordable Historic format, the alliance embodies the aims and objectives of both the admirable Vision charity and those of the Historic Rally Carnival organisers.

Colin McRae Vision was established in the aftermath of the tragic helicopter accident in September 2007, which claimed the lives of rally legend Colin McRae, his five year-old son Johnny and two family friends. The McRae family felt it correct to use Colin's name and legendary achievements to raise funds for charitable and worthwhile causes. It is among the many laudable aims of this initiative to advance public participation in sport; together with education, arts, culture, science and the provision or organisation, of recreational activities.

To achieve its aims fund-raising is part and parcel of the initiative and Barbados Historic Rally Carnival founder Greg Cozier, a staunch advocate of the Vision principles, is delighted with the new partnership: "It is a great privilege to be associated with Colin McRae Vision and its admirable objectives. Our event is thrilled to assist wherever possible in promoting the fund-raising efforts, through the sale of merchandise at the various motor sport and social events."

Colin's father - five-times British Rally Champion Jimmy McRae - is entered in the Historic Rally Carnival in a Porsche 911 prepared by Tuthill Porsche, renowned specialists in the German marque. During the Rally Carnival, Jimmy will be meeting fans and autographing McRae Motorsport and Rally Carnival merchandise.

The RallySprint is the first event of the Carnival, held at the challenging and technical Bushy Park race track in the east of the island on Saturday 17 July at noon. After some 'r, r and r' (rest, relaxation and reconnoitring) the following week, the Karcher Summer Stages starts at mid-day on Saturday 24 July. Running at the back of the modern rally, the Historic Rally continues into Saturday night, when passes over the dauntingly fast and varied surface Pickerings special stage in the dark will provide a truly historic opportunity for the 'men' to be sorted from the 'boys'.

UK competitors arrive in Barbados this week to meet their cars and equipment, which sailed to the island on Geest vessels weeks ago. Scrutineering is followed by a welcome party, both at a convenient hostelry, on Friday 16 July, before the RallySprint the following day.

As well as Jimmy McRae, UK competitors include Francis Tuthill, founder of the preparation specialists, who will drive the very 911 which he used to win the 1993 London-Sydney Marathon; Nick Cook will contest his 1973 MkI Escort and Graham 'Grum' Wilcock will be searing the Barbados stages in his 1978 Opel Manta. Cook and Wilcock are both three-time veterans of previous Rally Carnivals and both are addicted to the the Carnival's 14 days of happy social atmosphere.

Bernard Northmore takes his 1972 Renault 12 Gordini to the Caribbean for the first time, while Oxford University Motorsport Foundation's (OUMF) 1965 Riley 1.5 is now a favourite Bajan old stager. This year, the venerable BMC-mobile has 'rested' on the island since contesting May's Rally Barbados - its second international outing in Barbados. Driver and OUMF organiser Ding Boston is again bringing the OUMF crew of rally-mad students for the Historic Rally Carnival.

Local entries close later this week: some 20 Bajan historic rally cars and crews are expected to mix it with the European cars competing for the richest prize in Caribbean motor sport; the King of the Carnival prize for best overall class performances. This is provided by the Rally Carnival organiser's arrangement with the awesome and challenging Killarney Historic Stages in Ireland next December: if Barbadians win this year's Historic Carnival, they also win an 'all expenses paid' entry for Killarney this year; if an overseas crew wins in Barbados, they get an free entry back on the island in 2011.