TORONTO, Dec. 19, 2013 /CNW/ - Top Gear Festival will make its Americas debut on the Caribbean island of Barbados at the newly renovated Bushy Park Circuit on 17-18 May, 2014. Hosted by Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May, Top Gear Festival Barbados will feature an awe-inspiring line up of cars and driving talent including The Stig, the Top Gear Stunt Team and guest drivers from the world of motorsport and entertainment. Stars will take to the track in a series of Top Gear style stunts and features for the action packed weekend. Tens of thousands of visitors are expected to flock to Bushy Park as the circuit reopens for the first time since its renovation by Bushy Park Circuit Inc, the developer and local promoter of the event.
Richard Sealy, Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Barbados: commented:
"The realisation of this dream has been a long time coming. Barbados is already the base for the celebrated Sol Rally Barbados, which has seen the cream of the crop of the rally world compete on our island's roads and hosting Top Gear Festival, now places Barbados firmly at the heart of Caribbean motorsport. We have identified events and niches that are integral to the viability of our industry and Top Gear Festival ticks these boxes. Essential plans and actions are well on track for the project with Bushy Park Circuit promising to be the perfect venue. We look forward to welcoming a wide audience to the island with fans expected to travel from the UK, North America, Europe, Caribbean and Brazil.'
Previous Top Gear Live events have seen Jeremy, Richard and James play host to famous faces including Mark Webber, who set the Sydney Motorsport Park lap record in the Red Bull Racing Formula 1 car, two-time MotoGP World Champion Casey Stoner, two-time Formula 1 World Champion Mika Hakkinen, rally driver Ken Block, F1 race winner David Coulthard, F1 World Champion Jody Scheckter and larger-than-life F1 personality Eddie Jordan. To date Top Gear Live events have been seen by over 1.8 million visitors, with the show travelling to 21 cities in 15 countries.
Firmly established as the greatest motoring theatre show in the world, Top Gear Live events have featured a number of jaw-dropping stunts including the world's first indoor loop-the-loop which earned the show a Guinness World Record, an F1 ice-cream van, a heart-stopping 300ft car bungee and a fleet of flaming 911 Porsches.
Next year's Top Gear Festival, Barbados is expected to attract tens of thousands of petrol-heads keen to see the world famous presenters, guest drivers and celebrities in action and take part in this true celebration of all things motoring. Visitors are encouraged to book early so as not to miss the most exciting new event on 2014's entertainment and motoring calendar. Bushy Park is a short drive from the island's capital Bridgetown and from the international airport.
James Cooke-Priest, Top Gear Live Chief Operating Officer said;
"We are delighted to be working with the Barbados Tourism Authority and the Bushy Park Circuit following their extensive efforts to secure a Top Gear Festival for 2014. Having enjoyed successes in many countries around the world we're looking forward to playing a major part in the re-launch of Bushy Park Circuit in May, and being an annual fixture in the Barbados motorsport calendar as the new circuit gains global recognition. Top Gear Festival, Barbados joins an extensive calendar of events for 2014 with dates already announced in the UK, Australia & South Africa. Further destinations are in development and will be announced in the New Year.'
The official event website and online ticket sales will go live in mid-January at www.topgearfestivalbarbados.com
Editors Notes
About Barbados
The island of Barbados offers the most authentic Caribbean experience with its exceptionally rich culture and history rooted in remarkable landscapes. Rated as one of the world's sexiest beaches in 2008 by Concierge.com; Barbados' Crane Beach in St. Philip stands as a premier destination for travellers. Barbados is also the first Zagat-rated Caribbean island and is known as the culinary capital of the Caribbean. Barbados has hosted several world class events including: The annual Barbados Food & Wine and Rum Festival; the 2006 PGA World Golf Championships-Barbados World Cup, the ICC Cricket World Cup Finals in 2007, the Sentebale Charity Polo match with Prince Harry of Wales in 2010, and the ICC Twenty20 Cricket Finals for 2010, and the Rihanna LOUD concert in 2012. Accommodations range from picturesque plantation houses and villas, to quaint bed and breakfasts and award-winning, five-star resorts. Grantley Adams International Airport offers even more non-stop and direct service from a growing number of U.S. cities via Jet Blue and American Airlines, making Barbados the true gateway to the Eastern Caribbean. Barbados was voted eighth in the World by Trip Advisor's '2008 Travellers Choice Destination Awards' in its Top 100 Destinations category. For more information on travel to Barbados, visit www.visitbarbados.org, follow on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/VisitBarbados, via Twitter @Barbados.
Top Gear Live & Top Gear Festival
Offering a variation on more traditional motor shows Top Gear Live and Top Gear Festival brings the spirit of the TV programme to the live events arena allowing fans to immerse themselves in their passion for Top Gear and motoring in general. Starring Jeremy Clarkson, James May, Richard Hammond and The Stig the event features an exhilarating mix of stunts, supercars and challenges. Top Gear Live has been running world tours since 2008 entertaining over 1.8 million visitors. Note: the format of the event and presenter line-up can vary in different countries. Top Gear Live is a joint venture between BBC Worldwide and Brand Events Ltd.
Brand Events UK
Brand Events was formed in 1999 and is the UK's most successful innovator in events and exhibitions. Since then it has launched some of the UK's most popular consumer events including Top Gear Live and, most recently the CarFest North and South events hosted by BBC broadcaster Chris Evans which have raised more than £2m for BBC Children in Need.
BBC Worldwide Ltd.
BBC Worldwide Limited is the main commercial arm and a wholly owned subsidiary of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). The company exists to exploit the value of the BBC's assets for the benefit of the licence fee payer and invest in public service programming in return for rights. The company has five core businesses: Channels, Content & Production, Sales & Distribution, Consumer Products and Global Brands. In 2011/12, BBC Worldwide generated headline profits of £155 million on headline sales of £1085 million and returned £216 million to the BBC. For more detailed performance information please see our Annual Review website: www.bbcworldwide.com/annualreview
Image with caption: "Barbados to host 2014 Top Gear Festival (CNW Group/Barbados Tourism Authority)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20131219_C5880_PHOTO_EN_35180.jpg
SOURCE: Barbados Tourism Authority
Media contacts:
Cheryl Carter/Brita Greaves
The Barbados Tourism Authority - Canada
1-800-268-9122
[email protected] or [email protected]
Share this article