Local champion driver Edward Corbin defied the odds and drove away with SeaBoard Marine Group two championship at the Guyana International race meet at the South Dakota Circuit last weekend.
After a minute’s silence to observe the passing of Prime Minister David Thompson, Corbin, at the wheel of a well-prepared Automotive Art/Klark-Odio/Corbins Garage/JVM Signage Toyota Starlet, scored a second and two third places to place the crown beyond the reach of any other driver in a weekend of racing where Barbadian drivers had to come to grips with some unsportsmanlike tactics from the hosts.
“It was tough going. The track was slippery but if I return to Guyana next year, I would be looking to have more power. Their track is big and requires different techniques when compared with Barbados,” Corbin said.
Corbin, who was making his debut at the South Dakota circuit had qualified fourth on the grid for the opening race behind pole-sitter, Guyana’s Chet Singh, and Barbadians Kenrick “Snappa” Husbands and Mark Thompson, both driving Toyota starlets.
He opened his account with a third place finish, then grabbed two second places, one achieved after a bruising battle in the final meeting of the group.
But a much-anticipated meeting between Guyana’s Andrew King, Kevin Jeffrey and lap-record holder Roger “His Hotness” Mayers did not materialise as Mayers’ Chefette Restaurants/Delaware Dispensary/M&M Racing Ford Focus developed engine problems and he was only able to grab second spot in the first meeting of the SeaBoard Marine Group 4 for the Caribbean Motor Racing Championship (CMRC).
His technical crew had worked assiduously all day to correct the problem but to no avail which allowed Guyana’s Kevin Jeffrey to make a clean sweep of the honours at stake on the day and was presented with the President’s Trophy Group 4 champion driver of the day by Guyana’s President Bharrat Jagdeo.
However, Jamaica’s David Summerbell Jr., the defending champion, retained the CMRC overall crown.
On a day when Barbadian drivers’ cars took a battering from the Guyanese, Stuart Williams was the worse as suffered extensive damage to the left rear of his Williams Equipment Lotus Elise after Guyana’s Mark Vierra had driven into the car as they left.
The incident prevented Williams from taking participation further in the event, while a blown headgasket and a cranked engine block also kept out Shawn Boxill who had been entered in a Suzuki Swift GTi.
Other drivers subjected to bounces of varying kinds were first-timer in Guyana Jason Harewood, Husbands and Mark Thompson and Doug Maloney, while Kurt Thompson’s Glassesco/NKM Clothing Honda Civic developed mechanical problems early in the day’s action.
Lone cyclist Brook Miller encountered mechanical problems and managed a fourth place in the opening race for 600 cc motor cycles.
List of winners:
Group 4 overall champion: David Summerbell
Group 4 two-wheel drive champion: Paul Vierra
GP2 champion: Edward Corbin
Superbike champion: Graham Graham
Best mechanic: Brian Tenpow
Lightweight motor cycle champions: Mark Meneze and Ravi Singh
Superbike champion: Kevin Graham
Rookie champion: Sorren Griffith
Group 2A champion: Chet Singh
Group 2B champion: Danny Persaud
Group 3 champion: Ravi Singh
Group 4 champion: Mahendra “Raj” Boodhoo
Go kart champion: Marcus Feidtkou
