Latest update November 21st, 2024 1:00 AM
Six days remain before Region’s best racers square off at South Dakota
By Rawle Welch
Six days remain before some of the best racers in motor sport in the Caribbean converge at the South Dakota Circuit to participate in the final leg of the Seaboard Marine Caribbean Motor Racing Championship (CMRC).
Flashback! Three of the ‘big guns’ Kevin Jeffrey, David Summerbell Jnr and Mark Vieira in that order seen in a previous battle at the South Dakota Circuit.
But long before race day, a flurry of activities among the sport’s administrators, sponsors, competitors and the fans had started as they prepare for what has gradually developed into the biggest sporting spectacle in the ‘Land of Many Waters’.
No other sport in Guyana is responsible for the large influx of visitors who converge at the premier motor racing facility to witness the annual showdown between the region’s best drivers and riders as they exhibit their skill and will in a battle for overall supremacy.
Reigning Caribbean champion Guyana will no doubt be aiming to keep hold of the country title and perhaps add the individual crown to its collection, especially with two of its sons Kristian Jeffrey, who leads the points standing, and teammate Danny Persaud, firmly placed in the top two spots.
The host has named a strong team to defend home turf, but Barbados, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago have also done the same, so fans could expect a day of exhilarating rivalry when the competitors take to the grid.
Motor racing across the Caribbean is on the move and the traditional countries that host the various legs in the Series are all set on improving their respective facilities with the clear focus being on expanding the Series to attract racers from outside the Caribbean.
Barbados has taken the lead in this direction, hosting the Top Gear Festival earlier this year, while the country is confirmed to host the Race of Champions Meet in December where some of the best drivers from F1, NASCAR, Le Mans, Rallycross and World Touring Car are anticipated to compete.
The Guyana Motor Racing & Sports Club (GMR&SC), the official entity with responsibility for the sport here did manage to get the assistance of Government to resurface the South Dakota Circuit a few years ago, but will have to significantly improve to get FIA’s approval to host events of the magnitude that Barbados is doing.
Plans are in the pipeline to move in that direction and should the construction of a bigger and better Circuit become a reality then the sport which is enjoying a fillip right now could progress even further.
The month of November in recent times is synonymous with motor racing and this Sunday expected show of force from the fans will evidently emphasise this view.
Hundreds of visitors are expected in Guyana from North America, the Caribbean and even further afield with Guyanese nationals projected to be the bulk of overseas support so it is added incentive for the local racers to drive and ride on their support and keep the titles in Guyana.
What is assured is that the fans will be the real winners since the Guyana leg because it usually decides who the winners are has always proven to be the most exciting in the Series.
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