Sport News

Barbadian motor sport official Warren Gollop has been appointed International Steward for the first round of the high-profile all-woman 2022 W Series at the Miami Grand Prix this weekend (May 6-8). The Chief Steward of the Barbados Motoring Federation (BMF) for the past 10 years, Gollop says he is “looking forward to the start of a new and exciting chapter in motorsport and a chance to represent the BMF and, by extension, Barbados.”
 Gollop’s first international appointment comes after successfully completing three years of Stewards Training Seminars organised by world governing body the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), in person in Geneva in 2020, then virtually for the following two years. Although this will be his first international appointment overseas, Gollop represented host nation Barbados on the international panel of stewards for the Race Of Champions at Bushy Park in 2014 and on the panel for ROC Caribbean.
 BMF President Senator Andrew Mallalieu said: “I am very pleased that Warren has been offered this chance, which proves the value of the FIA’s training programmes. He has served the sport in this capacity for many years locally and regionally but, thanks to Tim Mayer, one of the Permanent F1 Chairmen, Warren has this opportunity to serve at an international level. Tim and I started the F1 Steward trainee programme together in Montreal many years ago and when he reached out to me to recommend a person from our region for this position, I had no hesitation in recommending Warren.
 Before he left for the US early this morning (Wednesday), Gollop said: “It will be a new challenge for me to put into practice many of the things which we experience in training, but I don't often get to use directly in local motorsport. It is also very special to me to get the call up on a Formula 1 Grand Prix weekend, as I never dreamed that I could be this fortunate to be involved at the pinnacle of single seater racing at this stage.
 “I would like to thank Andrew Mallalieu for his support in providing opportunities to get to this stage, also three other key unwavering motorsport supporters on this journey - Harry Watkins, John L Sealy and the late Larry Henriques of Jamaica; these gentlemen have always supported and encouraged me to keep pushing . . . also my wife Carolann, who is encouraging me to go away for Mother's Day!”
 Now entering its third season, W Series is a free-to-enter championship that provides equal opportunities for women and eliminates the financial barriers that have historically prevented them from progressing to the upper echelons of motorsport. Drivers are selected purely on their ability and the cars are mechanically identical,?creating a level playing field in which talent will emerge. Intended from inception to enjoy a high media profile to inspire young girls to go karting, bringing more females into the grassroots of the sport, this year W Series will race?alongside Formula 1 at eight Grand Prix?weekends.

Editor’s note: affiliated to the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), which rules the sport worldwide, the Barbados Motoring Federation (BMF) is the island’s governing body for motor sport; it also represents the interests of its Member Clubs in discussions with Government departments which facilitate the sport in the island, in particular the Ministry of Transport, Works & Maintenance, which permits road closures for an agreed number of events each year. Away from motor sport, the BMF affiliate which answers the FIA Mobility remit is the Barbados Automobile Association (BAA), which is an executive committee member of the Government’s Barbados Road Safety Council.

For media information only. No regulatory value.

For further information:
please contact BMF Vice-President, David Williams - e-mail: vicepresident@bmf-fia.com
web site: https://bmf-fia.com/