LEWIS HAMILTON may be accustomed to winning Formula One races. But over the weekend, he definitely won over the hearts of Barbadians at the Bushy Park circuit.
The Top Gear Festival may be over, but for those who journeyed to the St Philip race track on Saturday and yesterday, the memories of Hamilton’s spectacular, impressive and skilful driving displays will live on forever.
An evidently bigger crowd turned out to see the 29-year-old 2008 Formula 1 champion in action yesterday, the final day of the Top Gear Festival.
Spectators would have particularly savoured the showdown between Hamilton in his Mercedes AMG Petrona and Global Rallycross Championship (GRC) driver Ken Block, in his 600 horse-powered Ford Fiesta ST, which left spectators screaming for more.
They also witnessed the track’s first scary moment when Block’s car overturned during the GRC finals, pressing all of the emergency services into action.
When the American eventually emerged from his vehicle ten minutes later, he was greeted by a huge round of applause from relieved patrons.
After a brief break to repair a wall damaged by Block’s collision, the crowd was then treated to a thrilling finale – minus Block – which Scott Speed eventually won.
For Stephen Proverbs, who arrived at the venue just after 7 a.m. to ensure he got a “good spot”, Top Gear was everything he had hoped for, and more.
“This is going to make one of the best Top Gear shows ever. The racing, especially the GRC, was competitive and exciting as well, and the novelty events like the car football was also very entertaining,” said Proverbs, of Date Tree Hill, St Peter.
However, he did voice his displeasure at not being allowed to bring his own food and drinks into the venue.
Kerry Pooler, too, gave the event the thumbs up.
“It was definitely worth the money. I’m having a really good time,” he said.
Dawn Taylor, despite not being a regular visitor to Bushy Park, praised the festival.
She saw no issue with having to buy food from the several stalls available.
“It’s a nice show and very well organised. I was particularly impressed with how they handled the crash and the fire in the final race. There were lots of places for food, and the prices were as good as for any other event,” she said.
Her only qualm was that she felt there could have been an additional screen on the far side for general patrons.
