Drag Race: Hellcat-powered Starion aiming for eight-second supremacy

The race is on to determine which is the fastest local-built car and more so, who walks away with bragging rights and title of eight-second champion when the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC) hosts the second round of the Drag Racing championships on Sunday (June 23) at South Dakota.

Budhram Heeralall, mechanic for the Mitsubishi Starion, which is powered by a Doge Hellcat V8 Engine, is hopeful the car can be void of issues, thereby producing some blistering times.

There are lots of expectations riding on the car, given the beastly nature of the engine. It is one which comes from the Dodge Demon, one of the fastest on the quarter-mile strip.

During a visit to the camp on Tuesday at its base in Lusignan, East Coast Demerara, Heeralall and team were observed hard at work to ensure it can run close to its premium best on Sunday.

He noted preparation has been uphill task, but they are working overtime to ensure owner Krishna Jettoo of Del Ice Company gets the best out of his machine.

Heeralall indicated that without nitrous, the car pushes at 900HP, which puts the machines well within the realm to challenge the lighting speed of Shawn Persaud’s Toyota Caldina and Trans Pacific Toyota Altezza, which is tuned by Balram Mechanics.

Should the Starion run to potential, the eight-second class should be extremely exciting for all patrons.

Looking ahead, Heeralall expressed a strong belief the car will run low six-seconds when all the integral parts arrive and it’s well-oiled in time for the massive meet in August.

Meanwhile, at a recent interview, GMR&SC President Rameez Mohamed stated he expects over 100 competitors to register for the event and the club has begun to put better safety systems in place and more effective crowd control mechanisms.

Much more track bite will also be placed on the track in the lead-up the event. GT Tuners, West Coast Customs Wash Bay and Imran Auto Works have combined to sponsor the reaction time prize. The driver with the fastest reaction will win US$100.

DEL Ice Co will also award prizes to the fastest 10-second ($200,000), 11-second ($150,000) and 12-second ($100,000). Tickets for adults cost $1000 and children $500. Action starts at 09:00h.