Supported by a grant from the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) President’s Development Fund, the island is to have a state-of-the-art Esports facility that is accessible to everyone. Work is scheduled to start in the first quarter of next year, following the successful funding application by the Barbados Motoring Federation (BMF).
Confirmation comes as BMF President Senator Andrew Mallalieu and Treasurer Jeanne Crawford returned from last week’s (December 9-12) FIA General Assemblies in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Mallalieu was elected to serve a second four-year term on the 28-member FIA World Motor Sport Council (WMSC), responsible for all aspects of international motor sport from karting to Formula 1, another major honour for the island.
The Esports facility is being developed in partnership with Bushy Park Circuit Inc (BPCI) and Caribbean Sim Motorsport (CSM), one of the eight sporting clubs affiliated to the BMF. It will be housed on the upper floor of the Clubhouse, which is being refurbished to include a new wheelchair access lift; eight simulators will be installed by official FIA supplier Advanced SimRacing, with one being an accessible unit.
While the BMF looks to increase participation in motor sport, there are other plans for the project: at the community level, it will offer accessibility through schools and other institutions to those who would otherwise not have access, while CSM, which has a wealth of experience in this field, will be able to run local and regional competitions.
Mallalieu said: “We are so proud that our application for a grant from the President’s Development Fund was accepted, as it will change the face of Esports in the island and help us expand motor sport further into the community and hopefully across the region. My thanks to Bushy Park and CSM for their commitment to the project and the work that is ahead for them.
“Barbados was represented in the Esports category at the FIA World Motorsport Games in 2022 and 2024 and just last month Mark-Anthony Hinkson finished fifth in the FIA North American Esports final in the Dominican Republic. This new facility will mean more virtual ‘seat time’ for guys like him, which will prepare us for a stronger challenge in the 2026 Motorsport Games and perhaps beyond, if Esports becomes an Olympic sport.”
Established by FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem in July last year, the Fund is designed to contribute in a significant way to the development of motor sport, with particular emphasis on helping small and medium-sized ASNs and Clubs with local talent development initiatives, criteria the BMF project comfortably fits.