A REFRESHED engine and gearbox have boosted the confidence of Roger “His Hotness” Mayers ahead of the Barbados leg of the Caribbean Motor Racing Championship (CMRC) this weekend.
The four-wheel-drive lap record holder for Barbados and Guyana will be at the wheel of the Chefette/Deleware Dispensary/Illusion Graphics/Valvoline Ford Focus.
He will lead the Barbados team to the CMRC, the feature event of the Digicel Williams International Race Meet being organised by the Barbados Auto Racing League at Bushy Park.
Speaking from his base in St Joseph, Mayers told NATION SPORT that he was comfortable with the way preparations had been going and he was ready for the action.
Admitting that he had to overcome a few problems recently, Mayers said he and his team had completed all the remedial work on the engine and gearbox.
“We have stocked on spares should the need arise and we are covered,” he said.
Asked about the competition waiting for him, especially defending CMRC champion David Summerbell of Jamaica, Mayers said that he was two seconds faster than Summerbell in one event and the Ford Focus would be faster than it was then.
“Summerbell may need another car in order to catch me . . .,” he suggested. “We are going out there to win.”
The might of the Caribbean will be in Barbados for the two-day event, led by Summerbell and including another top Jamaican, Doug “Hollywood” Gore, Guyana’s champion driver Andrew King and Bushy Park debutant Jodi Ali.
Mayers, like his brother Barry, is on a personal fitness programme and is confident he can give a good account of himself.
He had high praise for his sponsors Chefette Restaurants, Deleware Dispensary, Illusion Graphics and, for this event, Valvoline Oils.
“I want to give them a very memorable event, while satisfying myself and pleasing the racing public ,” he said.
The level of competition among the top-class group will be strengthened by the inclusion of Adrian Beer, a multiple sports car champion and the current leader of the Irish Touring Car Championship, and Barry Rabitt, a winner of the FIAT Uno One-Make Championship.
