Live Television Coverage for Bushy Park CRMC

As preparations for this weekend's (September 1/2) Digicel Williams Seaboard Marine International Race Meet at Bushy Park, St Philip, move into top gear, the Barbados Auto Racing League (BARL) has confirmed that motor sport fans around the region will be able to enjoy live television coverage of the event.

In a joint venture with BARL, the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) will broadcast the day's entire race schedule, the headline event of which is round two of the 2012 Seaboard Marine Caribbean Motor Racing Championship (CMRC). While not available live in Barbados – local fans will be able to view the coverage later in the evening – the programme will be seen in the wider Caribbean, including CMRC competitors the Cayman Islands, Guyana and Jamaica, and also via Cablevision in the New York Tri-State Area.

BARL Chairman Adrian Mayers said: "This is a first for motor racing in the region. In the past, there has been live coverage over the Internet from all three CMRC host countries, but this is the first time a whole day's racing has enjoyed live network TV coverage across the region. We are delighted to partner with the CMC to bring this to the Caribbean's thousands of motor racing fans."

CMC's Special Project & Client Relations Officer Loretta Skeete said: "This new partnership gives us a chance to help promote the increasingly popular sport of motor racing, which has followers in every country which we serve. We hope that this would become the first of many such broadcasts."

Friday (August 31) has been set aside as a day of Free Practice, particularly targeted at those overseas visitors who will be racing in Barbados for the first time, so have much to learn about an appropriate set-up for the 0.8-mile circuit. In the evening, there will be a social in the ‘Corral' adjacent to the pits, during which there will be a brief period of formalities to officially welcome the overseas guests and thank the event sponsors.

Qualifying is slated for 1.00pm on Saturday, when admission is free. There will be seven 20-minute sessions, starting with Williams Equipment Group 1 and working up through the Groups to the Seaboard Marine CMRC cars, which are scheduled to be on track at around 3.00pm. Once Qualifying is complete, a further period of Free Practice will be permitted until 6.00pm.

The gates to Bushy Park open at 6.00am on Sunday and BARL management is encouraging patrons to arrive early. Prices have been pegged at 2011 levels, with admission to the Grounds at $30 and the Clubhouse at $45, while Grounds Parking is now free. The only tickets on sale in advance are those for the BARL VIP Experience, which sell at $250.

Renamed for 2012, the VIP area is now under the direct management of BARL, which has partnered with Bryden's and Paul's Enterprises to enhance the product for patrons. Service will start with breakfast – patrons will be able to watch the Belgian Grand Prix Formula 1 race live from 7.00am - with lunch and snacks available later the day and complimentary premium drinks, courtesy of Bryden's, to wash them down.

The race programme is now set at 22 races, as the proposed Barbados Rally Club Challenge events have had to be abandoned. Director of Racing Kurt Seabra explained: "Unfortunately, with the Rally of the Sun & Stars falling just a week after Bushy Park, there was insufficient interest in BARL's invitation to the rallying fraternity to race with us as they did last year, so those races have been dropped. We still have more than 80 entries to date, however, with an enquiry or two still coming in pretty much every day, and we are confident of staging an excellent day of motor sport."

Digicel Williams Seaboard Marine International Race Meet timeline
Friday, August 31 – 6:30pm: Regional Drivers official welcome, Bushy Park
Saturday, September 1 – 1:00pm: Qualifying, Bushy Park, followed by Free Practice
Sunday, September 2 – 8.00am: Digicel Williams Seaboard Marine International Race Meet
Monday, September 3 – 7.00pm: Prizegiving, Bushy Park
* all times are approximate