Top race driver calls for end to street racing after championship win
Published:Friday | February 6, 2026 | 12:08 AMJanet Silvera/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Freshly crowned overall champion of the Jamaica Race Drivers Club (JRDC) Kyle Mais is using his biggest career moment to call for an end to reckless street racing on Jamaica’s roads, urging motorists to “race on the track, not on the road”.
Mais, who was officially recognised last weekend in Panama by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), said the rising carnage on the nation’s roadways has reached a point where champions must speak beyond sport.
“As a professional racing driver, I love speed,” Mais said. “But speed belongs on the track, not on public roads. Our roads are shared spaces, and far too many innocent lives are being lost. If my championship can help even one person think twice before racing on the street, then it’s already worth more than any trophy.”
Mais’ appeal comes against a grim backdrop on Jamaica’s roads. Data from the Island Traffic Authority and the Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB) show that 2025 was one of the deadliest years in recent memory, with approximately 374 people killed in road crashes.
An estimated 325 fatal collisions were recorded during the year, with motorcyclists accounting for the highest number of deaths (111), followed by pedestrians and occupants of private motor vehicles. Authorities have repeatedly pointed to excessive speed, improper overtaking and driving under the influence as the leading causes.
While the JFB responded to 947 motor-vehicle crashes in 2025, a 32 per cent reduction compared with 2024, fatalities remained stubbornly high. Westmoreland recorded the highest number of crashes (288), followed by St James (130).
The toll has been so severe that officials have publicly warned that road deaths now rival, and in some instances surpass, the national murder count, a comparison that underscores the urgency of Mais’ message.
“Real racing is about control, preparation and respect,” he said. “Anyone can press an accelerator, but knowing when and where not to push is what separates a driver from a danger.”
Mais’ journey into motorsport began long before he ever climbed behind the wheel. As a child, he was immersed in the sport while watching his uncle, David Summerbell Sr, compete, and later following the career of his cousin, David Summerbell Jr, a multiple Jamaican and Caribbean champion.
As an adult, Mais transitioned from spectator to competitor, enrolling in professional racing schools in New Zealand, where he developed both his technical skills and a deep respect for the discipline the sport demands. His competitive career formally began after purchasing his first race car from international driver Fraser McConnell.
In 2019, he secured his first Class One championship, quickly establishing himself as a serious contender. He later moved into the more powerful Improved Production Two category, a step that required patience, development and resilience, qualities that ultimately culminated in his 2025 Drivers’ Circuit Racing Championship title.
Despite the achievement, Mais remains characteristically humble, quick to credit Jamaica’s depth of driving talent rather than elevate himself above it.
“I don’t consider myself Jamaica’s fastest or most naturally gifted driver,” he said. “We have an incredible pool of drivers across all age groups. I simply prevailed and won the championship.”
He also underscored that success in motorsport is never an individual effort, crediting the team that supports him behind the scenes, including Bobby Marshall (fabrication); New Generation Racing’s Gareth and Mark Moody (race preparation and support); PJ Moody (tuning); Ishmael Moody (driver coaching); Shawn Salmon (team management); and Zori, a tyre specialist who has been with the team from the beginning.
Mais also thanked his sponsors, Lubit, Fuel Depot, Motul, Digiview, T-Shirt Express, S Hotels and Tropical Battery, as well as his family, friends and fans, noting in particular his father’s unwavering support through countless race days.
While the competition on track is fierce, Mais said it is governed by mutual respect and sportsmanship. “Rubbing is racing,” he said, “but we look after each other and compete the right way.”
As he looks ahead to the 2026 season, Mais says his message will remain the same: Jamaica’s roads are not racetracks, and the thrill of speed must never come at the cost of lives.
“This title gives me a voice,” he said. “And I intend to use it.”