The gentle waves, the cool ocean breeze, the warm sunshine – Barbados can be quite a serene place.
But not this weekend.
The Red Bull Global Rallycross contingent is visiting the Caribbean island for business, not pleasure. Well, maybe a little pleasure…But not until after their season-opener, which is part of the Top Gear Festival Barbados at Bushy Park Circuit.
The GRC event is part of a jam-packed two day party that will feature – among other things – hordes of supercars, Formula One demonstrations from Lewis Hamilton, and the usual Top Gear cast: Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, James May, and the man that lets his right foot do the talking – The Stig.
You can watch the race on Saturday, May 24, at 1 p.m. ET on NBC. NBC will air most of the GRC races this season (primarily live), with re-airs on NBCSN, the NBC Sports Network.
Plenty of talent will be on the GRC grid this year, and their accomplishments speak for themselves.
Perhaps the one driver that jumps out for most American race fans is Scott Speed, the former F1 and NASCAR racer that’s teamed with two-time GRC champ Tanner Foust at Andretti Autosport.
Another major name is Ken Block, who won the GRC season finale last year in Las Vegas and has become an icon to millions of young action sports aficionados thanks in part to his electrifying series of Gymkhana driving videos.
This season’s driver roster also features Emma Gilmour, the first female competitor in GRC history that’s driving for and teaming with former Pikes Peak Hill Climb world record holder Rhys Millen.
Also ready to rock and roll are drivers such as Nelson Piquet Jr., who like Speed, also has experience in the F1 and NASCAR worlds; Sverre Isachsen, a multi-time rallycross champion in Europe; former NASCAR K&N Series veteran Austin Dyne; and Bucky Lasek, a X Games skateboarding legend that’s entering his third GRC campaign after winning the series’ 2013 sportsmanship award.
2014 Red Bull Global Rallycross Schedule
May 18 – Top Gear Festival Barbados (May 24, 1 p.m. ET on NBC)
June 7 – X Games Austin (check local listings)
June 22 – Volkswagen Rallycross DC (LIVE, 2 p.m. ET on NBC)
July 20 – New York, NY (LIVE, 2 p.m. ET on NBC)
July 26 – Charlotte, NC (LIVE, 3 p.m. ET on NBC)
Aug. 3 – Detroit, MI (LIVE, 2 p.m. ET on NBC)
Aug. 23 – Daytona Beach, FL (LIVE, 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC)
Sept. 20 – Los Angeles, CA (LIVE, 5 p.m. ET on NBC)
Sept. 27 – Seattle, WA (Sept. 28, 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC)
Nov. 5 – Las Vegas, NV (Nov. 16, 2 p.m. ET on NBC)
Red Bull Global Rallycross Drivers/Teams
Supercars
00-Steve Arpin (CAN), Royal Purple Racing/OMSE2 Ford Fiesta ST
04-Sarah Burgess (AUS), BMI Racing Chevrolet Sonic
07-Nelson Piquet Jr. (BRA), SH Racing Rallycross Ford Fiesta ST
11-Sverre Isachsen (NOR), Subaru Rally Team USA WRX STI
14-Austin Dyne (USA), Barracuda Racing Ford Fiesta ST
18-Patrik Sandell (SWE), Olsbergs MSE Ford Fiesta ST
27-Emma Gilmour (NZL), Rhys Miller Racing Hyundai Veloster
31-Joni Wiman (FIN), Olsbergs MSE Ford Fiesta ST
34-Tanner Foust (USA), Andretti Autosport Volkswagen Polo
38-Brian Deegan (USA), Ford Fiesta ST
43-Ken Block (USA), Hoonigan Racing Division Ford Fiesta ST
59-Pat Moro (USA), Chevrolet Sonic Racing/PMR Motorsports
67-Rhys Millen (USA), Rhys Millen Racing Hyundai Veloster
77-Scott Speed (USA), Andretti Autosport Volkswagen Polo
81-Bucky Lasek (USA), Subaru Rally Team USA WRX STI
199-Travis Pastrana (USA), Subaru Rally Team USA WRX STI
GRC Lites
24-Mitchell Dejong (USA, Olsbergs MSE), 39-Kevin Ericsson (SWE, Olsbergs MSE), 60-Tyler Benson (USA, Rhys Miller Racing), 65-Geoff Sykes (USA, Team TBA), 77-Austin Cindric (USA, Go Puck/Nightrain), 79-Blake Fuller (USA, Go Puck/Nightrain), 88-Harry Cheung (USA, Cohesive Front Racing), 126-Alejandro Fernandez (COL, Olsbergs MSE).
