'King David' rules Caribbean

Glenroy Sinclair, Assignment Coordinator

Despite mechanical challenges, Jamaica's David Summerbell Jr stuck to his pre-race plan and amassed enough points to retain the 2010 Caribbean Motor Racing Championship title, at the final leg of the regional series, which concluded in Guyana on Sunday.

'King David', as he affectionately called because of his dominance of the track, was securing his fifth lien on the regional drivers' title.

Summerbell, who holds the Dover lap record at 1.18 seconds, was crowned the 2010 Dover and Thundersport class champion only two weeks ago.

According to reports in the Stabroek News, Summerbell, who drove a Total-sponsored Mitsubishi Evolution 8, finished two points clear of Guyana's Kevin Jeffrey, ending with 76 points to take the Four-Wheel Drive title.

"It was really good," commented Summerbell, shortly before departing Guyana yesterday.

Jeffrey, who produced a late burst for a last shot at the title, dominated the Seaboard Marine-sponsored series by winning all three races. He cut a 12-point deficit that Summerbell had going into the final leg of the champioonship at the South Dakota racetrack.

Jamaica's other entrant, Peter 'Zoom Zoom' Rae, surrendered his lead and lost the Two-Wheel Drive title to Guyana's Paul Vieira.

A key member of the Jamaican team, Doug Gore, did not make the trip. The car he was planning to race was sold in Guyana.

The other members of the team include Andre Anderson and motorcyclist Harlquin Rodney.

Speaking with The Gleaner yesterday before he left for Guyana, Rae explained that because of the fumes in the atmosphere, he had respiratory problems and that impacted his performance.

Though Jamaica had the least number of drivers participating in the third final leg of the championship, the nation managed to finish second behind Guyana for the over-regional championship, with Barbados in third place.