The ex-Didier Auriol car, in which Powell finished second in Rally Barbados 2007, has recently undergone a total rebuild at the workshop of Toyota guru Erik Wevers in Holland, following an accident in Barbados late last year in the hands of Mark Higgins.
"I'm really looking forward to it - first, because it is the chance to compete on a real fun rally and second, I will get the chance to drive a WRC Corolla. It is a car I've always wanted to drive," said Kris.
While he will be hoping to emulate the successes of fellow-countryman Kenny McKinstry, the only European driver to have won the event - he did so twice, in 1993 and 1996 - Meeke knows that winning is far from a foregone conclusion.
"It is a very specialised rally and local knowledge is very important. Plus, there are some good drivers in the West Indies with nearly-current cars like Paul Bourne, Roger Skeete and, of course, John Powell," he added.
Reigning Barbados Rally Club champion Bourne and Powell now both campaign
Subaru Impreza WRC S9s, while Skeete - with ten victories, the most prolific winner of the island's premier event - has an ex-works Ford Escort WRC.
Adding into the mix Jamaica's Gary Gregg and other European regulars such as Perez and Kevin Procter, who now has an Impreza S7, means Meeke will have his work cut out.
"The closing date for entries is still some way off, although we are now almost certain of those who are committed to travel from overseas,” summed-up Sol Rally Barbados chairman Barry Gale. "Last year, we were boasting about six ex-factory World Rally Cars in the entry and we are certain to beat that number this year.
"And, apart from Bjorn Waldegard and Kris Meeke, whose names we have been able to confirm today, there are still some further interesting drivers and cars to be announced in the coming weeks."
![Bjorn Waldegard at the East African Safari Rally 2005 [Pic credit: www.mcklein.de]](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/187760.jpg)
