A FATHER-son team from Chepstow has entered next June's international Sol Rally in the sunny Caribbean island of Barbados.

The event is the Caribbean's biggest annual motor sport international.

Father and son Rob and Ross Weir heard about the event on a previous visit to the island.

Rob is returning to rallying after a long break, having enjoyed 10 years in the sport from 1975 as driver or co-driver in a variety of Opels: Ascona, Kadett and Manta.

The two debuted their brand new 300bhp Weir Laundry Equipment/HJ Weir Engineering Subaru Impreza on October 30 in the WLE Rally Time Trial.

Organised by the Forest of Dean Motor Club and sponsored by their family business, which sells refurbished industrial laundry machines to cruise lines, hotels and hospitals globally, the event was staged at the popular Sweet Lamb complex in mid-Wales, where fast gravel tracks blend some technical twisty bits to offer a challenging venue.

It was 58-year-old Rob's first event for 26 years, while 28-year-old Ross was making his competition debut as co-driver. They finished 25th overall and seventh in class.

Afterwards, Rob said: "I was really pleased to finish, that was the plan. It was a superb event, well organised, with great stages. Its nice to be back...more match practice before the Wyedean, now."

Ross added: "The car ran faultlessly all day and we both really enjoyed the event. The Forest of Dean Motor Club is our local club, this being one of the reasons we decided to sponsor the event, we feel that our contribution to the event was a way of putting something back into the sport."

The Weirs are now planning a two-day test at Walters Arena, the popular spectator stage that features in Wales Rally GB, Britain's round of the World Rally Championship; they aim to arrange this before the end of November, after which the car will be fully-liveried in time for the Team GMF Motor Factors Wyedean Forest Rally in February.