Young Amaya Mohamed ready for Need for Speed Karting debut

Fourteen-year-old Amaya Mohamed is counting down the days to her first competitive karting event as she prepares to line up in this weekend’s highly anticipated Need for Speed Karting Championship.
The two-day championship, organised by Jumbo Jet Events, will be held on Friday and Saturday at the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC)’s Thomas Lands facility and is expected to attract some of the country’s top karting talent.
For Mohamed, the journey into motorsport began earlier this year after attending the historic Nitro Kart Klash event.
“I first got into kart racing when I went to the Nitro Clash Kart Racing. I realised that it looked very fun and it looked interesting, so I decided to give it a go,” the youngster explained.

Since then, she has been working hard behind the scenes, attending practice sessions and learning the fundamentals of the sport.
“I’m trying my best to come as many days as I can and really push myself and work on my lines and know what I’m doing wrong and acknowledge all of my mistakes. I’m trying to perfect all of it,” Mohamed said.
Despite being a newcomer, she is embracing the challenge and looking forward to competing alongside more experienced racers.
“I heard that it’s going to be really fun, it’s going to be competitive, and I can’t wait to participate in my first race. Honestly, I’m excited to race with all of them, and I hope I can learn from them if I have any mistakes. I just hope they can help me.”
Mohamed will make her debut at one of the richest karting events ever staged in Guyana.
More than GY$17 million in prize money will be contested across several divisions, including LO206 Briggs & Stratton Light, Heavy, Junior and Cadet; Honda GX200; IAME 125cc; LO206 Rookie Over-35; LO206 Female; Supermoto Senior; and Supermoto Junior categories.
The marquee LO206 Briggs & Stratton Light class will carry a winner’s purse of GY$4 million (US$20,000), while several other divisions will offer GY$2 million (US$10,000) to the champion. Remaining categories will compete for prizes ranging from GY$1 million to GY$1.5 million.
Adding to the spectacle will be the debut of a “VIP and Local Celebrities Arrive and Drive” category, which is expected to provide fans with plenty of entertainment while giving prominent personalities a taste of competitive karting.
Veteran racers have also been accommodated through a dedicated Veteran Pro Drivers class for competitors aged 50 years and older, with the winner set to receive GY$2 million.
Organisers have confirmed that most categories will race on MG Red tyres, while competitors in the IAME 125cc division will utilise MG Yellow tyres.
With substantial prize money, a packed programme of racing and the emergence of promising newcomers such as Mohamed, the Need for Speed Karting Championship is shaping up to be one of the most exciting motorsport events on the local calendar.