Four rounds confirmed for Seaboard Marine CMRC 2015

The Caribbean Motor Racing Championship (CMRC) will be fought out over four rounds for the first time in 2015. Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago will each host a round of the premier regional championship, with Seaboard Marine confirmed as title sponsor for the sixth year.

Just days after a landmark weekend for regional motor sport, during which two-man teams from the four host countries faced one another in the inaugural ROC Caribbean (December 13) at the Race Of Champions staged at Bushy Park Barbados, the Caribbean Motor Racing Association (CMRA) announced next year’s dates.

Ray Rahaman, Chairman of the CMRA Management Committee, which administers the CMRC’s sporting and technical regulations, said: “We are motivated by the success of the restructured 2014 series, with revised regulations that allowed for the most subscribed and competitive race car and driver participation on our regional racetracks to date.

“Regional motor racing can only become more exciting in 2015 when we stage a four-round series, and with additional emphasis on all the classes that will support Group 4, as we spread the net wider and include more competitors.”

Seaboard Marine’s Vice President, Caribbean Division, Stephen Bell said: “We are very pleased to continue our sponsorship of the CMRC and are looking forward to working with the Caribbean Motor Racing Association to enhance the appeal of the series and to foster great camaraderie among Caribbean peoples.”

The Championship will kick off in Jamaica over the weekend of February 28/March 1, which is earlier than usual – in recent years, CMRC has started in May - with Trinidad & Tobago hosting round two on June 20/21; the third round will be in Barbados on September 12/13, with the decider in Guyana, on November 14/15.

Not only does the curtain-raiser move to an earlier date, but also away from Dover Raceway to a new venue, the Jamwest Speedway, as part of a huge launch of Jamaica’s 2015 motor sport season, the International SpeedWest Weekend. Charles Chen, Chairman of the Jamaica Race Drivers’ Club (JRDC), the CMRA affiliate in Jamaica, said: “Having missed the chance to host a round of the CMRC in 2014, we’re excited about this new venture. We recognise that the success of the CMRC is important and that it will always drive the best out of us and therefore improve the quality of our sport locally.”

The Trinidad & Tobago Automobile Sports Association (TTASA) returned to the Championship for the first time in eight years as a host club in 2014, after motor sport enthusiasts from across the island joined forces to restore the Wallerfield circuit to a useable condition. TTASA President Robert Amar said: “As the Caribbean solidifies the Championship and new infrastructure in the sport becomes available, we anticipate sponsors will be attracted to support the CMRC, which will soon become the region’s premier motor racing event.”

After missing out on hosting the CMRC last year for the first time since 2008, because the redevelopment of Bushy Park was already under way, Barbados staged the opening round of the 2014 series earlier than usual in July. Bushy Park Motor Sports Inc (BPMSI) Chairman Sean Maloney explained: “The Barbados round has traditionally been in late August or early September, and we are pleased to move back, as this year’s date meant some clashes with other island activities, which impacted on our event.”

The only date in the calendar to remain in the same slot is the traditional season finale at the South Dakota Circuit. Guyana Motor Racing & Sports Club (GMR&SC) President John Carpenter commented: “Each year, our motor racing season builds towards the Final Showdown of the CMRC, which always provides close and spectacular racing. As the winners of both the Country Championship and Group 4 Drivers title in 2014, we look forward to welcoming the cream of regional drivers to settle next year’s competition.”

Further details of the sporting and technical regulations of the 2015 CMRC will be announced in the coming weeks.

Seaboard Marine Caribbean Motor Racing Championship 2015
February 28/March 1 - round 1, Jamwest, Jamaica
June 20/21 - round 2, Wallerfield, Trinidad & Tobago
September 12/13 - round 3, Bushy Park Barbados
November 14/15 - round 4, South Dakota, Guyana