From behind the lens to high-speed racing: Kunal Persaud is ready for showdown with Boost High Octane

As the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC) is gearing up to lunch its Vitz Cup Championships in April at the South Dakota Circuit, the rivalry has begun, with at least 10 new racers eying a podium spot.
One such racer is 31-year-old Kunal Persaud, who has shifted gears from being behind a camera to driving his 2000 Toyota Vitz – 1st Generation. He is the owner of GT Tuners — one of the most recognized motorsports media platforms in Guyana – and he has, for years, been behind the lens capturing the excitement. However, 2025 marks a shift in his perspective, and he is ready to take on the challenge.
This former Bishops’ High School student has been fascinated by cars from a very young age, and has spent hours watching F1 racing on television. As he grew older, intensification of that passion ultimately led to the launch of GT Tuners in 2017. Now making the transition from a motorsports media specialist to a racer is a significant and exciting step for him.
“Since I’m not the only media personality making the transition to race car driver, I’m throwing down the challenge to Luis Kumar of Boost High Octane. This will add some excitement to the competition, turning it into a true battle of the media houses on the track,” Persaud told Guyana Times Sport.
To ensure he stays on course, his machine has to be ready, but there might be some stumbling blocks, which Persaud is hoping to cross in time for April 27.
“It feels like time is slipping away. Sourcing parts has also been difficult, especially since we’re building a first-gen base model Vitz to compete against third-gen Vitz RS and GS models. This requires extensive upgrades, including brakes, suspension and drivetrain components. We also need to swap out the 1000cc engine for a 1500cc 1NZ, which is a time-consuming process. On top of that, financing the build is no easy task,” Persaud has said. Notwithstanding, he is optimistic that his car would be ready and he would be on the podium.
There are persons in the motor racing fraternity whom young and new drivers look up to for guidance, or even as role models. Persaud, in declaring his belief that senior drivers should play a vital role in guiding and motivating young and new racers, has said, “For me, drivers like Andrew King, Mark Vieira and Danny Persaud have been instrumental in fuelling my passion for rear-wheel-drive cars and rotary engines, and their influence could be invaluable in shaping the next generation of talent.”

Currently a new kid on the turf, he intends to gradually move up to the Group 2 category in the next season, but related, “We’ll see how things unfold. Additionally, we’re working on completing my X90 Mark 2 for drag racing, and hopefully it will be ready in time for the final round this year.” Imran Auto Works and Drivers Paradise Auto Services have been working tirelessly around the clock to ensure Persaud’s car is ready for April 27.
For all the plans and expectations of this young racer, everyone knows how expensive the sport can be: it requires the financial backing of private companies, and even corporate Guyana. As
such, Persaud and his team are currently sending out proposals for sponsorship, and are hoping for successful results.
“Since GT Tuners is already a well-established motorsports media brand, our potential sponsors have a lot to gain by partnering with us,” the confident young man explained. He explained that their sponsorship packages go beyond just placing logos on the car to also offering a comprehensive promotional strategy, including brand placements, on their race cars, race suits, crew shirts and social media content.
“Additionally, we will actively promote our sponsors by sharing their campaigns; organizing meet-and-greet events to expand our fan base; and increasing brand awareness,” he explained.
In fact, next month GT Tuners would officially launch its website, providing other exciting packages to those who support them.
Meanwhile, motorsports in Guyana have the potential to evolve into a professional sport, rather than remaining just a club or hobby-based activity. Persaud believes that with the right decisions and vision from the administration, racers can capitalize on Guyana’s growing economy, an excellent track, and the increasing interest from young enthusiasts.
“To truly develop the sport, we must effectively utilize these opportunities. I have personally worked alongside the club, and independently, to support and promote motorsports. Unfortunately, a new rule introduced this year has placed restriction on our funding, which directly impacts our ability to create content and market the sport. It’s unclear how this decision will benefit the club or motorsports as a whole,” he has said.
Thinking there is need for a structured system to be in place to educate newcomers to the sport, Persaud has said, “The go-kart track, which is crucial for the learning and development of young and aspiring racers, must be fully operational. Investing in grassroots development is essential if we want to see motorsports thrive in Guyana.”
He added that the inclusion of women in the sport is a significant step towards the development and expansion of the sport to promote equality.
“Increased participation brings diversity, enthusiasm, and a broader audience, (all of) which are key ingredients for growth,” Persaud has said. “I honestly don’t see motorsports as a gender-based competition. If women want to race, they should compete in the class their car qualifies for, just like everyone else. Motorsport is about skill, performance, and the machine, not gender. You don’t see a separate lane for female drivers on public roads, so why create one in racing? This isn’t cricket or football; cars don’t have gender.”
Persaud is encouraging those who want to join the fraternity to start in a slow and affordable class. “Racing is an expensive sport, so it’s best to ease into it with something manageable. The Vitz Cup is a great entry point. it’s one of the most cost-effective classes and provides valuable track experience,” he has said.
He is also encouraging aspirants to surround themselves with reliable people who can support and work with them.
Persaud’s ultimate goal in the next five years is to gain experience, refine his skills, and progress to the faster classes.
“In the next five years, I envision myself competing alongside the senior racers in a more advanced category. At the same time, I look forward to sharing my knowledge and experience with the next generation of racers, helping to grow and develop the sport,” he said.
Launch of the Vitz Cup, Persaud believes, is set to revive competitive racing by bringing in many new drivers and evenly-matched cars, thereby promising plenty of thrilling door-to-door action.