Mark Maloney Leads Day Two of 2026 BCIC Rally Barbados

Skoda Fabia Rally2 driver Mark Maloney and co-driver Justin Maloney are the leaders going into the second day of the 2026 BCIC Rally Barbados.

On a rain-affected first stage at the Bushy Park Racing Circuit in St. Philip, 119 crews gathered under the clouds for what looked like a dry start to the rally. However, just after car zero, the heavens opened, and with the cars all stationed in the same area as their service crews, putting on a set of wet tyres was simple.

At the end of the short two-kilometre test, designed to whet the drivers’ appetites and provide a night out for rally fans, Mark set a blistering time of 1:48.10. Second place is Mark’s brother, Stuart, who, alongside co-driver Kristian Yearwood, set a time of 1:48.80 in their Skoda Fabia Rally2.

Fresh from winning the First Citizens King of the Hill event, Joe Cunningham and Josh Beer seemed to relish the rain, and they lie third on 1:49.60 in the Ford Fiesta WRC.

Fourth place is former karting champion Adam Mallalieu, with co-driver Peredur Davies of Wales in their Ford Fiesta Rally2. Mallalieu was the fastest on both runs at Bushy Park last year and never fails to impress on the circuit.

Two-time Rally Barbados winner Dane Skeete, who was also a former karting champion, is teaming up once again with long-time friend and co-driver Tyler Mayhew and is fifth after setting a time of 1:49.80 in the Subaru Impreza WRC S12. Irishman Aaron McLaughlin and co-driver Darren Curran looked really comfortable in the wet and are in sixth place in the Volkswagen Polo GTI R5 with their time of 1:50.20.

Rob Swaan, who made the switch to the WRC class, is chasing a long-awaited Rally Barbados victory, and he and co-driver Tom Woodburn (who once sat beside the late two-time Rally Barbados winner Paul Bourne) are seventh after setting a time of 1:50.70.

Five-time Rally Barbados winner Jeffrey Panton has former British Rally Champion Matt Edwards beside him, and the duo are eighth with their stage one time of 1:52.10. In an interview before the rally started, Panton revealed that he may step away from the top battle to have some fun, so this may be the last time fans see him battle at the sharp end.

Josh Read in the Ford Fiesta Rally2 with Mark Jordan sitting beside him is ninth after setting a time of 1:53.50, and the team of Darryl Morris and Steve Gully, who hail from the autonomous British Crown Dependency of Jersey, round up the top ten after setting a time of 1:54.50 in the Skoda Fabia R5.

Mark-Anthony Hinkson was a surprise package with his impressive time of 1:57.00, and he is the leader of the SM2 and two-wheel drive battle. Meanwhile, Zane Maloney, who is not eligible for the rally win, unofficially set the fastest time at 1:47.30.

After the first stage, the top three and Zane spoke with the media. The rally leader, Mark, said, “It was quite slippery out there, and they had a lot of barriers that were moved as well from previous cars because of moving around and all that, so it wasn’t a stage that you could pace, not because you didn’t know what was coming next.”