With the name change from the Texaco International All Stage Rally to Rally Barbados, the organizers wanted to give the event a more international feel. More international competitors came, from all around: Austria, Finland, England as well as the Caribbean, mainly Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago. With the word of the Barbados Rally Carnival spreading, great things were being expected every year. 2005 saw a shift in focus from quantity to quality. Fresh ideas needed to be brought to the table, and this year, the ideas that came to fruition have left tongues wagging, even to this very day.

First there was the shakedown. What is a shakedown? Basically, a shakedown is a compact version of a rally special stage. The shakedown takes place a few days before the rally. It isn't as long as a full stage, and is intended to give the drivers and navigators a feel for the conditions which the will encounter. This year was the first year that an official shakedown was held for Rally Barbados. This was more so for the international crews, as opposed to the locals, as for some of them, they had never competed in Barbados before. For others, it was to work out some last minute bugs.

The atmosphere before, during and after the shakedown was simply electric. Spectators (over 1000 of them) waited with baited breath to see who would turn up. Participants included Gary Gregg (Ford Focus WRC), John "Penti" Powell (Toyota Corolla WRC), Doug Gore (Mitsubishi Lance Evo 8), Kevin Procter (Ford Puma 4x4) and Martin Stockdale (BMW M3 GTR). The shakedown was held in the Hangman Hill, St.Thomas area. Though not pushing hard, drivers gave spectators a taste of what to come, and from what was seen, Rally Barbados 2K5 was going to be off the chain. Stockdale's refettled M3 with its new 4.9 litre V8 engine was a treat for the ears, and Proctor's Puma spat fire with every gear selected. Gregg's Focus, not as raucous as the M3 or the Puma was deceptively quick. Powell took it easy with the Corolla WRC, but everyone around knew the beast that lay within it's placid exterior. Fans were left buzzing with excitement after the shakedown, especially Stockdale's sideways antics and the staccato of the Puma's antilag. The Bajans were in for the fight of their lives.

With an international rally, international competitors, why not have an internationally acclaimed rally driver as your guest of honour? Enter former World Rally Champion, Didier Auriol. Having driven for Skoda and Toyota, also having an impressive World Rally Championship record (at least one podium finish in every three starts), Auriol was, without a doubt the perfect guest of honour. His visit was made possible by John Powell's connections with some friends of his at TTE (Team Toyota Europe). Didier readily accepted the invitation. To add some spice to the pot, rumors were rife that Auriol would drive the Corolla WRC at Vaucluse Raceway at the superspecial at the end of the rally.

In the second race of the superspecial Powell raced against Gary Gregg, so when the Corolla re-emerged from the pits later in the evening, all rumors and anticipation were confirmed. The aural volume around Vaucluse reached a level never before attained. As Auriol (left) rocketed away from the stat pad, the cheers rose as rapidly from the crowd like the RPMs from the Corolla's engine. The fans were not prepared for what was about to happen next. In the middle of the fist turn, Auriol stopped the car and proceeded to do donuts!!! This sent the crowd into a frenzy. Nobody had ever seen a 4WD vehicle do donuts on the spot like this before. As he completed the left-hander at the top of the track, one thing was clear…this was how a World Rally Car was supposed to be driven- speed and car control in perfect harmony. Auriol was lightning- quick around the circuit, stopping twice more to do donuts. The crowd was left simply in awe of what they had just witnessed - they now had an idea of what separated top-class Caribbean drivers from WRC drivers - and by extension, World Rally Champions.

Rally Barbados has gone even more international…from a name change, to a shakedown, to a World Rally Champion as it's guest of honour. Didier (far right) even hinted and returning, but this time, as a competitor. Fans can hardly wait until next year. Things can only get better from here. The Barbados Rally carnival is the perfect blend of fun, sun and world class motorsport action anywhere in the world.