Veteran racers Andrew King and `Sir’ Mark Vieira are set to renew old rivalry when the Guyana Motor Racing & Sports Club (GMR&SC) host its second National Race of Champions meet for 2017 on July 2 at the South Dakota Circuit.
Both Group Four drivers have a prolonged absence from the sport, with King only returning last April in a Mazda RX7 to compete at the first edition of the National Race of Champions.
Vieira on the other hand, widely known for his exploits on the track, is expected to be seated in a three-rotary Mazda RX-8. With the addition of seasoned campaigner Kevin Jeffrey and son Kristian, Rupie Shewjattan, Vishok Persaud and Danny Persaud action in the Group Four category is likely to be fiery.
GMR&SC President Ramez Mohamed TOLD Guyana Times yesterday said that King could spell trouble for the competition. “King’s car is the one to look out for given that it is turbo-charged and faster than before,” Mohamed disclosed.
Andrew King trails Danny Persaud at Club House turn when they competed at the National Race of Champions on April 2
The meeting, which will be used as a warm up for the second round of the Caribbean Motor Racing Championships (CMRC) slated for July 30 at Frankie Boodram Wallerfield International Raceway in Trinidad and Tobago, has seen a large registration of competitors to date.
In Group One, twelve persons have registered; 10 persons for Street tuner (1500cc) along with eight persons in the Starlet Cup who will add to the four in Group Three.
There are also eight bikes confirmed which included the likes of Mathew Vieira, John Bennett and Kevin Persaud.
The GMR&SC President is calling on the fans to come out in their numbers to give support.
Mohamed acknowledge that numerous persons would attend the November meet, cheering for their Guyanese drivers but is adamant that the same enthusiasm is need at the local meets to encourage more drivers to compete.
Mohamed who will be competing in Group Two at the meet explained that when drivers participate at these local meets it gives them a chance to become privy to any flaws their machines might have ahead of the favoured November CMRC final round.
In April, Group 4 driver Kristian Jeffrey and his Mitsubishi Evolution annihilated the field with his aggressive racing style which allowed him to comfortably win all of his three races while Motor biker Kevin Persaud had an identical feat in the Super stock category.
The two-wheel action did not have the large participating contingent as norm but in the absence of the Vieira’s, Persaud dusted all of his competitors such as John Bennett and Ravi Singh to clock a fastest lap time of 36.759s.
Similarly, Daniel Deokie in his Honda Civic had an impressive day winning his three races in the Sports Tuner category while Shan Seejattan and Chet Singh shared the honours in the Group two races.
The July 2 meet is sponsored by Ansa McAl, Prem’s Electrical, B.M. Soat, Mohamed’s Enterprise, Ready Mix, Special Auto, Japarts, Ticket Master, Palm Court, KGM, MAC batteries, S. Jagmohan Hardware Supplies and Construction, L Mahabir and Sons Cambio and Choke Gas Station.
