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Motorsport boost

Published:Sunday | March 6, 2011 | 12:00 AM
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More than 300 go-karters, including several Jamaicans, pose for the camera at last weekend's Florida Winter Tour race meet, held in West Palm Beach, which features karters from 23 countries.
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Glenroy Sinclair, Assignment Coordinator

The Sports Development Fund (SDF) is awaiting a formal plan from the various motorsport stakeholders in Jamaica, with a view to enhance its growth locally.

"When we get these plans, they will be submitted to the Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, who will then review them. We are hoping to identify what support is required," said David Mais, chairman of SDF.

According to Mais, SDF has been assisting with circuit racing at the Dover Raceway in St Ann. In addition, the organisation assisted a local prominent driver to competing at an overseas event.

SDF diperses monetary contributions from the lottery companies which are aimed at boosting various local sports.

Mais was responding to questions about his organisation's financial assistance to motorsport against the background of its involvement with track and field, football and cricket.

"We want to look at this as part of the development for sports tourism," Olivia 'Babsy' Grange, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture told Automotives.

The minister stressed she had requested the plans some time ago.

In the meantime, Jamaica Karting Association's young representatives competing at the Florida Winter Tour (FWT) last weekend, turned in encouraging performances. They were competing against the best drivers from 23 countries.

Quite happy

Despite not having a podium finish, members of the Jamaican contingent were quite happy with how the youngsters took on their overseas counterparts with the very limited resources available to them.

"Track time, luck and a big budget are the key to success when competing at the FWT race meets," said Peter Rae, interim president of the JKA.

He said the experience gained by the young karters will be invaluable.

Samuel Law, a member of the Jamaican contingent, said mechanical problems proved costly. However, Matthew Williams, Joshua and Justin Sirgany, and Thomas Issa did well."I believe, as a country, our performances were good. Some of the karters like Collin Daley Jr and William Myers, their engines failed them," said Law.

Ricky Sirgany had high praises for the local lads and believed, with time, they will get better. The Florida Winter Tour is one of the longest-running, largest and most geographically diverse kart-racing series in the world.