Jamaica karters set for Miami debut

Glenroy Sinclair, Staff Reporter

A JAMAICAN contingent led by veteran motor racing driver, Peter Rae, will make their debut today at the Moroso MotorSport Park in Miami, Florida, where they will challenge several hundred American go-karters, at a two-day racemeet, which concludes tomorrow afternoon.

The other Jamaicans include former Yamaha Light Champion, Brian Fong Yee, Dr. Mark Minott and 10 year-old Matthew Williams, a student of Hillel Preparatory in Cherry Gardens, St. Andrew.

"Myself and Brian will be trying to meet the criteria of the minimum four race meets to improve our chances of qualifying for the Rotax International event which will be held in the United States later this year," said Rae, who will be representing the DHL team.

While Dr. Minott will be competing for the experience, young Williams who will be participating in the Rotax Mini Max Class, will also be trying to make good use of the opportunity to ensure that he is selected to represent Jamaica at the big international event in September.

NEW TRACK

"He recently competed in two racemeets in Miami, this track is new to him so he will be trying to get acclimatised to it," added Rae.

Today they will compete in heats and finals in the afternoon. When they resume tomorrow they will continue with heats, while finals will take place later in the day.

On their return to Jamaica on Monday, they will have to begin preparing for the May 14 Mother's Day meet at the Palisadoes International Raceway in Kingston.

In August, the local karters will be challenged by regional karters from Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago at a regional Rotax event which will be held at the Palisadoes International Raceway.

At that meet, the regional karters will be racing to secure the maximum points to ensure that they are selected to represent their respective countries at the Rotax International meet, to be held in Wisconsin, at the end of August.