MULTI-MOTORSPORTS discipline champion Kyle Gregg will add to the increasing number of Jamaican drivers on the international scene when he heads to Barbados on the weekend of April 23 to partake in the R5 Rally Championship.

“I will be missing Dover for a while as this is the main focus, but I’m glad I made the move to Barbados this year as the top class at Dover has depleted as many drivers have opted out,” Gregg told the Jamaica Observer‘s weekly Auto magazine.

R5 refers to vehicles built to compete under the R5/Rally2 regulations set by international rallying. These car sit below the World Rally Cars in price and performance, making them the go-to for privateer teams, drivers, and regional championships.

Rally Barbados, the largest rallying event in the Caribbean and a round of the R5 Rally Championship, has welcomed R5 rally cars to its fold extending into the R5 Rally Championship.

“Barbados has several Rally2 cars running the R5 Rally Championship with brands like Skoda, Citroen, Ford, Hyundai and so forth.”

The six round series has been designed with international competitors in mind, and includes four weekends, two of the biggest rallying events in Barbados — King of the Hill and Rally Barbados. It all culminates in a Race of Champions-style event in November.

While Gregg is known for his Group N Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX in Jamaica, it is obviously not eligible for the R5 Rally Championship.

“I recently purchased a Ford Fiesta Rally2 car from M-Sport, which builds all of Ford’s World Rally Team cars,” said Gregg, who will join 10 other R5 competitors in the Bajan-based championship including another Jamaican, Jeffrey Panton.

“Jeffrey Panton has just recently acquired a Skoda Rally2 and will be racing also. It’s good to have two Jamaicans competing in the series as this will help grow the class.”

The series doesn’t only contain stage rallying, but sees a range of other disciplines such as drag racing and autocross.

“The R5 Rally Championship is growing with over 10 cars and more to come. The level of competition is very high with less than a second separating cars over multiple stages.”

Gregg last rallied in Barbados in 2015; however, he exited with a gearbox failure. His move to the R5 Rally Championship comes as the series is expected to grow even larger than it currently is throughout the region.

“Rallying in Barbados is like a packed stadium watching track and field. The crowd is huge and I can’t wait to put on a show.”