CHEPSTOW based Weir Laundry Equipment (WLE) Rally Team had a successful trip to the Caribbean island of Barbados for two rallies in two weekends.

Initially Rob Weir was to take the wheel of his Triumph TR7V8, on his first event in two years after a huge rallying accident.

Sadly Rob was unwell so former national champion and historic championship front runner Rob Smith, who's RSR Historic Engineering company prepared the car, stepped in. Paul Willetts was co-driver on his first attempt at the rally.     

The rally was celebrating its 25th anniversary with a major overhaul, with a more compact route though no less tough than in previous years.

The format of events remained the same as in previous years, with the Lime King of the Hill run as the warm up event. The result went towards team's seedings for the following week's Sol Rally Barbados,and consisted of four runs of a 4.8km stage, which this year included the Vaucluse Raceway.

Having never rallied together before, the duo took their first run over 4.8km of bumpy and slippery tarmac in the TR7V8 steadily.

They were 13 seconds quicker on the second run, and a further second quicker again on Stages 3 and 4, to finish 37th overall, second in the International Historic and second in class to local star, Greg Cozier in his BDA Escort RS1800.

Paul said "It will take a while for Rob and myself to gel, but this TR7V8 is some car.

"We will do well to fight with the very quick Greg – some stages actually go past his farm – but we'll see."

Further success came from Ross Weir co-driving Roger Duckworth in his Subaru WRC to sixth overall and first in class after a trouble free run on the Lime King of the Hill event.

After a week of re-preparation and doing the recce of the 135 kms of high speed action, 98 crews assembled for the three day event, for 22 stages of the Sol Rally Barbados, which included former WRC (World Rally Championship) star Toni Gardemiester driving a Suzuki SX4 WRC.

Friday night's opening leg saw two runs of a packed and slippery Bushy Park super special, used on last year's Race of Champions, while Saturday's Leg 2 consisted of 11 tests – running into the night for the final two.

After a steady run through the morning's opening stage, drama unfolded when the TR7V8 ground to a halt at the start of the next test.

A quick check of fuses and electrics provided no answers and, with the battery now flat, the alternator was found to be the problem.

After borrowing a battery from a marshall and some frantic work re-connecting everything, the TR7V8 burst into life, so it was with fingers crossed that they got through the final two stages to get to service.

With the voltage level falling, the pair managed to complete the runs, changed the offending alternator and were sent on their way.

For Smith and Willetts, loops two and three were trouble free, though adapting to the changeable grip levels proved tricky and there were a couple of half spins on the slippery Vauclause section.

Leg 3 consisted of a further nine stages, with the changeable weather bringing frequent showers making the tarmac roads extremely slippery.

After a 360 degree spin and stall on the day's second test costing 25 seconds, the duo backed off to bring the car home 26th overall.

"That was a fantastic three days rallying," said Paul.

"It's one tough rally this, and the pace of some of these local boys is incredible.

"Its got just an incredible following out here, they just love it, and the amount of spectators out watching will put any WRC event to shame."