Executives of the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC) at the weekend met with the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr., labelling the talks as fruitful since they were able to pitch their futuristic agenda to the new Minister.
The country’s International Airports reopened on Monday, and the club executives are hoping they can host one meet in November under extremely strict COVID-19 guidelines, possibly featuring some overseas competitors.
Spectators would be barred from entering the South Dakota Circuit and only drivers who register by a deadline, which will soon be determined, will be allowed to participate.
Vice-President of Trinidad and Tobago Automobile Sports Association, Ashton Eligon, had told News Room Sport in July, they plan on sending a large contingent at the traditional year-end meet, if the necessary permission is granted by authorities at both ends.
It is understood the GMR&SC would seek permission from the COVID-19 Task Force, who will then guide them on the necessary protocols to possibly gain approval.
Since no spectators would be allowed, the plan is to live stream the event on social media platforms and national television.
Additionally, the club is hopeful that discussions can be made to fully privatise the Circuit since part of it is used as a public road by truckers to access Timehri from Linden/Soesdyke Highway.
According to an Executive, “It is important we can get full control over this facility since there are persons who would go up at the track unknowingly to us and would be racing. We want to make this a better facility and we have the commitment of support from the FIA but would need full authority over the area and it would have to cease being a public road.”
In April 2018, officials from the International Automobile Foundation (FIA) conducted a preliminary inspection of the South Dakota Circuit to assess the further development needed to accommodate high-level action such as Formula 4 cars for the North and Central American Championship (NACAM).
The Club is also hopeful it can access duty-free concession on race cars and the requisite car parts, but explained the duty-free concession would be granted to the Club rather than individuals.
Additionally, the plan is to ensure all racing events, ideally, the various Regattas and grass track events, come under the purview of the GMR&SC, as they seek to ensure they are done with safety as a high priority.
According to the Executive, the Minister expressed the willingness to see the best way the Government can help to develop the sport since they see Sport Tourism as a business that can significantly boost the economy of Guyana.
