Latest update May 10th, 2024 12:59 AM
Jan 04, 2015 Sports
By Rawle Welch
Faced with mounting pressure to duplicate or even surpass the performance of
the previous year and with the increasing challenges of procuring support from a cautious corporate community, the Management and Staff of the Guyana Motor Racing & Sports Club (GMR&SC) survived against the odds to enjoy another fantastic year for the sport.
Equipped with an executive that has shown a willingness to work hard for the further development of the sport and one that is also disposed to retaining the best expertise to maintain its high standards the GMR&SC has now catapulted itself above every other local sporting organisation, especially when the complexity of its function is taken into account.
The governing Body for the sport managed to reach new heights in terms of improving the general standard of operations regarding the overall advancement of the sport, a development which may have occurred for the first time in local motor racing.
Last year saw a few visits from FIA personnel aimed at dispensing new information to staffers, motor racers and stewards. The purpose was to train local personnel with the necessary information to improve safety for competitors and fans.
These Courses are necessary assuring potential fans of the sport’s discipline thereby enhancing marketing ability while also increasing the chances of making it a viable product for regional and international audiences.
While the Club was able to run off all its calendar of events, the year culminated with the staging of the Seaboard Marine Caribbean Motor Racing Championship final leg which many felt would be the litmus test for all those that benefitted from the FIA organized seminars.
It must be agreed that while the general performance was not flawless, one would be hard pressed to not give the Club and all those who were associated with the Meet a high passing grade.
Generally, the final destination of the CMRC is not known for serious incidents, but what
really impressed was the fact that the entire arena was even safer as the track stewards ensured that all adhered to the rules and regulations set out by the Race Director.
Guyana managed to retain the title it won the previous year, beating regional powerhouse Barbados and Jamaica in the process, while Trinidad and Tobago who returned to the fold made an encouraging restart to the regional championship, giving early evidence to an exciting 2015 season.
Unlike 2013 when it had to endure an initial challenge by a breakaway faction coupled with some other issues that could have derailed future plans, the Body now seems to be speaking from the same page and this is a welcome development for the sport.
The cohesiveness among administrators and competitors could only bode well for the sport which continues to enjoy massive support from inside and outside the Diaspora and one that if it remains on the present path could be promoted as the primary sports tourism product.
Just to emphasise the growth in the sport, the Drag and Endurance Meets are now taking on a regional dimension with racers from Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago now present at these events, while some of the local race Meets are also graced with foreign-based competitors from time to time so no one could dispute the expansion the sport has made over the past two years in terms of preparation, participation and fan support, necessary requirements for preserving interest.
Additionally, Guyana is now the country to beat in regional motor racing and the recent success might be the underlying factor for the renewed interest in the sport among young aspirants so the future looks bright for the sustenance of the sports here.
There is a cadre of young exciting and skilful drivers and Superbikers with a huge fan base and this too have ignited popularity in the sport so it is not farfetched to believe that Guyana’s reign as regional champions could stretch into the future.
Current regional champion Kristian Jeffrey became the youngest holder of the title, defeating quite a few illustrious drivers including former champions in Stuart Maloney of Barbados, David Summerbell Jnr of Jamaica and now seems to be the new face of regional motor racing, while his fellow countrymen Nikhil Seereeram and Matthew Vieira, both in their teens, have followed closely in his footsteps.
Young Jeffrey has the opportunity of honing his skills while competing against some of the best drivers in Canada and come the start of the season this year could be even better than when last we saw him.
He along with the experienced Mark Vieira, who incidentally has not lost any of his magnificent driving skills, had the opportunity to close their season driving against some of the best drivers in the world at the ‘Race of Champions’ Meet in Barbados in December, including FI driver Romain Grosjean and from the reports acquit themselves very well which will most definitely serve as confidence boosters ahead of the season’s restart.
It was reported that the local entity is currently engaged in discussions with external parties to further improve the South Dakota Circuit with a view of enticing ‘big’ name competitors to come and compete here and should this endeavour bear fruit then the sport which already has the potential to lure a crowd could also evolve into becoming a sports tourism product as well and generate huge economic revenue for the country.
The GMR&SC must feel proud of its achievements last year and with the new knowledge of how to organize major Meets, this year could easily eclipse the gains made in 2014.
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