Revving up for grand prix

Glenroy Sinclair, Assignment Coordinator

LOCAL stake-holders are buzzing with excitement at the prospects of the staging of the downtown Kingston Grand Prix, to be hosted by the Jamaica Race Drivers Club (JRDC), scheduled for June 19 this year.

Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Olivia 'Babsy' Grange is upbeat about the project, which she believes will benefit the nation's capital both in revenue and goodwill.

"As minister of sports, I endorse this event because it is one of the many things that are set to take place in support of sports tourism," Minister Grange told Automotives.

She further noted that the June 19 event is intended to be an annual affair and, in subsequent years, should attract race drivers from as far as Europe.

"The interest in this year's grand prix has been heightened and, so far, some of the regional drivers who will be participating here at the Caribbean Motor Racing Championship have expressed an interest in competing in the June 19 race," said Minister Grange.

However, reports reaching Automotives are that bad road conditions in sections of downtown Kingston could pose a major challenge to the staging of the event.

"We are ready and just waiting for the Government to give us the green flag," said Hilary Jardine, president of the JRDC.

While the JRDC awaits official word from the Government, a source at the Ministry of Transports and Works - who wished not to be named - explained that Minister Mike Henry had asked the National Works Agency (NWA) to address the matter concerning the road surface of the designated routes.

"The head of the NWA is actively engaged in making the necessary arrangements to do so in time for the event," the source disclosed on Friday.

According to Jardine, the grand prix route is now being finalised. But he said the JRDC was considering a trail which would take in sections of Harbour View, Port Royal, Fleet and Hanover streets and Ocean Boulevard, although there were currently potholes in some parts of that route.

Last December, the Petcom Stages Rally ran through several sections of downtown Kingston and attracted a large crowd. So, with the growing groundswell about the event, Jardine believes the grand prix could see an even bigger crowd of spectators.

"I expect that downtown for that event will be like a little Monaco," said Jardine.