Club, competitors buoyed by circuit racing revival

Racing drivers joined organisers in lauding the return of circuit racing to Bushy Park Barbados last weekend (August 29/30) as more than 40 local cars lit up the St Philip facility on the supporting programme at the Fast Parts Caribbean GT Challenge.

  As the 10-race supporting programme came to an end on Sunday afternoon ahead of the final GT Challenge race, the crowds on The Hill and in the Clubhouse cheered their local favourites, as donuts aplenty sent tyre smoke streaming into the atmosphere.   

  Bushy Park Motorsport Inc (BPMSI) Competition Secretary Kurt Seabra said: "The GT Challenge de las Americas delivered international spectacle to Bushy Park, but it was the support classes that gave the weekend its heartbeat.

  "From the BMW 318ti spec cars to BPMSI Groups 2, 3 & 4, Barbadian drivers showed the skill, determination and racing spirit we have come to expect from our local competitors. Their passion is what will keep circuit racing alive and thriving. BPMSI is eager to build on this success as we welcome more household names back to racing at Bushy Park."

  When the weekend podiums were confirmed at the pitlane Prizeiving on Sunday evening, Kirk Worrell, returning to the facility after a long break, won Group 3 in his Toyota Starlet, with Mark Maloney (Starlet) and Kurt Thompson (Honda Civic) tied in second place with a win apiece.

  Former BPMSI Champion Driver Jermin Pope won Group 2/Class 2 in his Honda Civic, after finishing the day on equal points with Danny Croney, racing at the facility for the first time in 14 years in his Starlet; the tie-break went in Pope's favour, with two wins to Croney's one, while two-time Autocross Champion Stephen Nicholls (Nissan March) finished third.

  Croney said: "I truly enjoyed my time back on the track and to be taking home a trophy on my first race in so many years is fantastic. There has been division between drivers and clubs and I came out to show that we need each other and need to work together. This weekend was a great success, congratulations to everyone who had a part in organizing it, let's make it happen even better next time."

  Carlos Edwards topped Group 2/Class 1 - the day's biggest BPMSI Group with 12 starters - in his Citroen C2R2, beating the impressive teenager Daniel Ullyett (BMW 318ti Compact) and first-time car racer and BPMSI Vice-Chairman Jamal Estwick (Suzuki Swift Sport).

  Edwards, who thrilled the crowds at the end of the day with some donuts around Mark Malony in the Porsche 992 Rally GT, said: "I think the biggest positive from the weekend was seeing circuit racing starting to feel alive again. There was plenty of close racing, a good mix of cars, some new faces coming out, and a real buzz around the event. That’s what we need to build on. If we can keep the momentum going, encourage more competitors to come out and focus on good, close racing, I think the sport can really grow again."

  In addition to the BPMSI classes, there were three races each for homegrown BMW 318ti Compacts and cars from the Mazda Caribbean Spec Miata Series, run out of Trinidad & Tobago. First-time racer Jacob Mustor was the stand-out performer among the BMWs, winning two of the three races after putting his car on pole position in a tricky and slppery qualifying session. The first race on Sunday was won by Ryan Wood, whose spectacular start from sixth on the saw him take the lead part-way round the first lap.

  'Woody's past experience includes 14 wins in the Suzuki Challenge Series Swift Cup a decade ago, a number matched by T&T's Ryan Peyrau. Peyrau won two of the three Miata races, the other going to Ryan Pinheiro, who had consistently been fastest in Free Practice, but suffered with some gearbox issues.   

Weekend Podiums

BPMSI Group 3: 1st Kirk Worrell (Toyota Starlet) 48points; 2nd Mark Maloney (Toyota Starlet) 25pts; 3rd Kurt Thompson (Honda Civic), 25pts BPMSI Group 2/Class 2: 1st Jermin Pope (Honda Civic), 71pts; 2nd Danny Croney (Toyota Starlet), 71pts; 3rd Stephen Nicholls (Nissan March), 65pts BPMSI Group 2/Class 1: 1st Carlos Edwards (Citroen C2R2), 71pts; 2nd Daniel Ullyett (Nissan 120Y), 65pts; 3rd Jamal Estwick (Suzuki Swift Sport), 59pts BMW 318ti Compacts: 1st Jacob Mustor, 71pts; 2nd Ryan Wood, 65pts; 3rd Aaron Parris, 63pts Mazda Miatas: 1st Ryan Peyrau, 69pts; 2nd David Coelho, 59pts; 3rd Liam Bartlett, 57pts

For media information only. No regulatory value

For further information:

Bushy Park Barbados Media Team: e-mail: media@bushyparkbarbados.com www.bushyparkbarbados.com or Facebook.com/BushyParkBarbados