In the Community

Following his spectacular victory on the Scotiabank King of The Hill, Suzuki SX4 WRC team driver Neil Armstrong and co-driver Barry Ward were cautiously optimistic heading into the 2013 edition of Sol Rally Barbados, the biggest motorsport event in the Caribbean.

 

The team started stage one and unfortunately the engine developed a misfire in the number one cylinder. This was diagnosed and immediately fixed after the stage and Neil had clean runs through stages 2, 3 & 4 and was very much on the pace. After an issue with the brakes which was also quickly rectified Neil continued after lunch to set some competitive times before hitting a chicane which damaged a wheel and punctured a tyre which cost about 15 seconds. Neil & Barry were pushing when they felt confident to do so and were lying fourth overall at the end of Saturday, still in the rally and looking forward to Day Two.

 

The UK’s Paul Bird had been fastest on stage one, Automotive Art Luke Hill, and Bird would be Saturday’s only leader, steadily building his advantage during the day’s 10 stages to lead Jamaican Jeff Panton by 28secs overnight. The Jamaican had one stage win and Barbadian Roger Skeete two, lying third, another 15secs adrift. Neil said: “Today has been OK, but I now need to put it behind me and concentrate on Sunday.”

 

The SX4 was thoroughly checked throughout Saturday night to ensure everything was OK for Sunday’s restart. Following Stage 12 (1st stage on day 2) Neil met us reporting that he had hit an immovable object with the left rear wheel, and had a severe vibration from that corner as a result. It was immediately evident that the magnesium alloy rim was bent so it was replaced.

 

Neil continued to post some solid times and get into a rhythm on the faster stages as his confidence grew. Rain came earlier than expected which meant a switch to rain tyres at the first main service.

 

By stage 16 Armstrong was really in the groove and set a fastest overall stage time, his first on his debut in the WRC class on this event; Neil said: “That fastest time really lifted my spirits.”

By this point the gap to Roger Skeete (third overall), Jeff Panton (second overall) and Paul Bird (first overall) was too large to reduce without one of them having an incident, so Neil set about consolidating his position and bringing the Suzuki SX4 WRC home for its first Sol Rally Barbados finish.

 

Sol Rally Barbados 2013 has been hailed as the most competitive ever for both 4wd and 2wd vehicles, and the team are thrilled to have brought the SX4 home in a competitive 4th place. Thanks to Neil and Barry for their sterling effort! With the next generation of SX4 engine being tested later this month, and with Neil gaining confidence with every km, we are all looking forward to seeing what we can do next time out!