Bushy Park Circuit

{{Short description|Motorsport race track in St. Philip, Barbados}} {{Infobox motorsport venue | name = Bushy Park Circuit | location = Gaskin, St. Philip, Barbados | coordinates = {{coord|13|08|N|59|28|W|display=it}} | image = class=skin-invert|250px|The main track layout of Bushy Park Curcuit, St. Philip, Barbados. | image_caption = Full Circuit (2014–present) | capacity = | fia_grade = | broke_ground = | opened = 1971 | owner = Mark Maloney | events = Global RallyCross Championship (2014–2015)<br />Race of Champions (2014) | layout = Full Circuit (2014–present) | surface = Asphalt | length_km = 2.012 | length_mi = 1.250 | turns = 11 | record_time = | record_driver = | record_car = | record_year = | record_class = | layout2 = National Circuit (2018–present) | surface2 = Asphalt | length2_km = 1.280 | length2_mi = 0.795 | turns2 = 9 | record_time2 = | record_driver2 = | record_car2 = | record_year2 = | record_class2 = | layout3 = Original Circuit (1970–2013) | surface3 = Asphalt | length3_km = 1.300 | length3_mi = 0.808 | turns3 = 9 | record_time3 = | record_driver3 = | record_car3 = | record_year3 = | record_class3 = }}

'''Bushy Park Circuit''' is a motorsport race track in the parish of St. Philip, Barbados. The circuit features a {{cvt|2.012|km|mi|abbr=on}} FIA Grade 4 course and a {{cvt|1.2|km|mi|abbr=on}} CIK Grade 1 course.

==History== The original race track was built in 1971 by sugar cane plantation workers as a {{cvt|1.300|km|mi|abbr=on}} circuit. The circuit became a hub for racing in the Caribbean over the next three decades, however had fallen into disrepair by the mid-2000s. Local rally driver Ralph Williams coerced the FIA and Apex Circuit Design into supporting the circuit's redevelopment, a cause that was boosted by the large crowds witnessed at the local touring car event which delegates chose to attend. Reconstruction began in 2013 on what was grandly proposed as the central hub for racing in the Caribbean.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bushy Park - Racing Circuits |url=http://www.racingcircuits.info/north-america/barbados/bushy-park.html#.XJ2jTJW7qM8 |publisher=RacingCircuits.info |access-date=29 March 2019}}</ref>

The track was refurbished and reopened in 2014 with the inaugural event being the Top Gear Festival featuring the Global RallyCross Championship. Later in the same year it hosted the 2014 Race of Champions.<ref>{{cite web |title=Barbados circuit to host Race of Champions |url=https://speedcafe.com/barbados-circuit-host-race-champions/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140907053642/http://www.speedcafe.com/2014/09/03/barbados-circuit-host-race-champions/ |publisher=Speedcafe |date=3 September 2014 |archive-date=7 September 2014 |access-date=10 August 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref> The Global RallyCross Championship returned in 2015 for a double-header event. Bushy Park has also since been used as a stage for Rally Barbados. Initially awarded a Grade Three license, a 2016 legal dispute that rendered the track unusable for 18 months would see the FIA downgrade the circuit to a Grade Four licence.

The circuit is owned by property developer Mark Maloney, uncle of Formula E driver Zane Maloney.<ref>{{cite web |title=F4 British Championship certified by FIA - powered by Ford 2019 standings |url=https://www.driverdb.com/championships/standings/msa-formula/2019/ |publisher=DriverDB AB |date=1 January 2020}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *[https://www.totallybarbados.com/articles/sports/car-racing-and-motor-sports/ Motorsport in Barbados] *[http://www.bushyparkbarbados.com Circuit website]

Category:Motorsport venues in Barbados Category:Populated places in Barbados Category:Global Rallycross tracks