Jimmy McRae has announced that he will contest the Barbados Historic Rally Carnival again this year in a historic Porsche 911, prepared by specialists, Tuthill Porsche.
The annual event will take place from 14-26 July and Jimmy, the most successful British Rally Championship competitor of all time, is hoping to beat last year’s result of second place.
A substantially extended Historic Rally route for 2011 increases the asphalt tests and the mileage contested at night on the second weekend of the 12-day Barbados Rally Carnival.
The historic motor sport adventure begins with a rallysprint on the first weekend, followed by the rally on the next. Between motor sport events, there a fair amount of recce-time, and in true Caribbean-style, beach-time, party-time and some relaxation. McRae, who wholeheartedly embraced the concept last year, looks forward to this year’s Carnival, describing the motorsport as “bloody competitive,” and considers the event to be “a good craic”.
As in 2010, company founder Francis Tuthill will also compete in his own 911. Co-driven by a Bajan local, Francis last year drove with a 2-litre engine, which proved very reliable but somewhat short of performance compared with what turned out to be a very quick field. This year he plans to drive his London to Sydney Marathon-winning car again, but explains that he’s a little more prepared this time: “I know what to expect by way of competition, so I’ll put a bigger engine in it – it’ll be 2.7-litre at best; or a 2.5 – I’ve got a couple of options.”
Tuthill Porsche owns an impressive ‘pool’ of competition 911s, many allocated to its impressive arrive-and-drive Tuthill Porsche Rally Challenge. McRae’s car has yet to be selected, but may be from that pool. Francis insists, however: “The Challenge engines are very good [in Barbados] “
McRae also drove a Tuthill Porsche in the company’s Porsche Challenge on the Pirelli Rally on 30 April, and beat off a host of hopefuls to win the round.
For a fee of £42,250.00 (plus VAT if applicable), Porsche Challenge competitors have the use of a Challenge-specification 3.0-litre Tuthill Porsche on five events of the BRC Historics, with all costs, including maintenance, consumables, accommodation, entry fees and insurance, fully covered.
For further information about the Barbados Historic Rally Carnival visit www.barbadosrallycarnival.com.