Ming determined for more success after a pleasing 2016
Guyana and the Caribbean’s only Formula 4 race car driver, Calvin Ming has had a successful 2016 season as was revealed by his father, Stanley Ming to the media at Ming’s Products and Services, Urquhart Street Kingston on Tuesday.
Stanley Ming, Calvin Ming and Chairman of the Press Conference, Kit Nacimento were delighted to bring the media up to speed with the nation’s racing sensation
The satisfied parent who is also Calvin’s Manager, noted that this is not only a proud year for the family, but the country as a whole. He related that when his son won in Mexico, the National Anthem of Guyana was played live across the entire country and as a result he received a call from the former Mexican Ambassador to Guyana who said “all of Mexico now knows where Guyana is.”
This was particularly important, the senior Ming mentioned that we now have another Guyanese highlighting Guyana in a premier sport in the world, not just placing but winning. He compared it to us having the best in cricket and now racing, saying that “it is good to know as Guyanese we can hold our head high on the world stage.”
On the other hand, an integral part of the scenario was the limited amount of resources available to Guyanese, who need to be properly trained and nurtured to do well. Even as persons approach corporate sponsors, that too is a limited resource.
Ming ventured to deduce that it costs in the vicinity of US$600,000 for a tour, traveling over 200 times for the pair to and from the various tracks in the United States of America, where Calvin studies and Mexico where the races were held. This figure is likely to increase for the next season.
With the support of his father, Calvin expects to conquer the challenges come 2017. While Ming Snr., sighted the movements of drivers such as Sabastien Vettel who moved from Formula 3 to Formula 1, Calvin who started in Formula 1600 will be aiming to make it into the Indi Grand Prix which is the top form of racing. Negotiations have already started.
Calvin would have raced in 21 races across seven different venues and is currently the number one racer in the series as they head into the new season which is expected to begin in February.
However, young Ming noted that it is not only the race day that is important but the preparation behind it as it is not easy to sit for 200 laps every weekend. Thus, the reason he is already starting to prepare with his team which comprises of international coaches and technical staff.
He gave the example of a three race day with a four-hour interval between races, while in the Caribbean it would be relaxing, in the international scene it is three hours in a trainer going through the paces with the team to prepare for the upcoming race.
Ming highlighted that it is considerably different from what we do here (in the Caribbean) where it is just a jump in and drive situation and also the length of the races is significantly different.
Another key feature to Ming’s 2017 season is that he has two offers currently standing to drive for a team and after spending some amount of time with the team the youngster will have one week to decide which team he will be joining.
