No go! Finances prevent Jamaica hosting major event

Glenroy Sinclair, Assignment Co-ordinator

Economic constraints have dashed Jamaica's hopes of hosting this year's Pan American Rotax Max Challenge Go-Kart Championship finals.

"Instead, we will be bidding to host the Rotax World Finals here in Kingston next year," disclosed Neil Williams, the newly-elected president of the Jamaica Karting Association.

The election of officers took place on Thursday night at the Spanish Court Hotel, St. Andrew. The other members of the executive include Dave Wong (vice-president), Mike Simmons (treasurer) and Heather Eaton (secretary). Peter Rae, Ricky Sirgany and Garth Genus were named directors of the club.

"Among my goals, this year, are to increase the membership of the club, bring back the club to its glory days and stage a successful international race meet later this year," said Williams.

Last year, Peter Moodie Jr won the Abe Ziadie Memorial trophy to claim the JKA Driver of the Year title. Jamaica's talented young karters have been at it again in 2012, William Myers, Thomas Issa, Collin Daley Jr, Joshua and Justin Sirgany creating a stir on the North American circuit.

At a meet two weeks ago Colin Daley Jr competed in the Shifter Class for the first time, while Justin Sirgany competed in the Mini Rock Class at the Florida Winter Tour (FWT) earlier this month. He qualified 30th on day one and ended up in fouth place in the finals, from a field of 35 karters. Day two saw him qualifying fifth, but he got bumped going into the first corner and that set him back 10th in the pre-final. However, Sirgany was able to finish eighth in the finals.

Thomas Issa, competing in the Rotax Junior event, qualified sixth on the grid and got knocked in the pre-final, but later drove a smart race in the finals to finish 13th, after coming from the back of the field. He improved his performance on day two, finishing eighth in the finals.

Daley Jr, competing in the Open Shifter/Masters Shifter Class, qualified seventh on day one out of a field of 10 karts, then finished the pre-finals in 10th place. He later worked his way up to finish third in the finals. On day two, he qualified 11th out of 11 karts and went on to finish eighth in the pre-final. He eventually finished third, to secure a second podium finish for that weekend.

In the Rotax Micromax event, Justin Sirgany qualified on pole out of a field of 42 starters on day one, but on day two suffered penalty points in the pre-finals which set him back to ninth and sixth places respectively for the start of the finals. Sirgany chased Canada's champion karter, Antonio Serraville all the way and at one stage there was a ding-dong battle for the lead. In the end Serravalle took the chequered flag on both days, with Sirgany finishing in second place twice.

Joshua Sirgany, competing in the Rotax Minimax event, qualified on pole for day one out of 60 karts and finished the pre-final in 13th place. However, he was able to work his way up through the field to finish sixth in the finals. Day two saw him starting on the grid in second place, finishing seventh the pre-final and ending the finals in 10th place.