GMR&SC likely to relocate Drag Strip at South Dakota Circuit

For there to be an effective cohesion between Drag and Circuit racing, the Guyana Motor Racing & Sports Club (GMR&SC) is likely to relocate the current Drag Strip at the South Dakota Circuit.

This revelation was made by President Mahendra ‘Raj’ Boodhoo during an interview with News Room Sport on Friday.

Boodhoo is seeking re-election as GMR&SC President when the club hosts its Annual General Meeting on January 10.

In recent years, Drag Racing has grown leaps in Guyana in all areas of fan support, infrastructure and competition.

The majority of the infrastructural development for Drag racing was funded by private partners of the club, mainly Mohamed’s Enterprise, and now there is a full quarter mile or 1320 feet strip along with pits.

The Drag strip, located at the southern end of the circuit, is also part of a high-speed area for Circuit racing.

In the preparation for Drag racing, lots of chemicals are used on the surface to amplify the performance of the cars and bikes.

However, in the case of Circuit Racing, this becomes hazardous, especially if it gets wet.

The club, through a strategic partnership with the Government and Private sector, extended the track from 0.78 miles to 1.6 miles with the main aim of becoming an FIA Grade 2 track.

“Our first task at hand is to reevaluate what we are doing in Drag racing”, Boodhoo stated.

“Drag racing has been growing tremendously over the years and we were hoping it could have co-worked with Circuit racing but it does not seem everything is in place for that to happen, so, our first task at hand is to look at what we can do to develop Drag racing and where can we put Drag racing.”

The GMR&SC President further stated, “All indications are we will have to move the Drag racing strip. As it is right now, we are awaiting some drawings, which should be available in another two weeks, of the topography of the area…and I am sure before this month-end we will know exactly where we are going with Drags.”

On the GMR&SC’s 2023 calendar of events, one of the highlights is the day/night Drag Racing scheduled for June 3.

The new addition to the calendar will mark Round Two of their Drag Racing Series with Round One carded for February 19 and Round Three, the International meet, set for August 6.

The GMR&SC President outlined that “Drag racing and Circuit racing have to coexist, we have a huge facility at South Dakota and it is just a matter of putting infrastructure in place for both to coexist at the same location, so, it will happen and that is our objective.”

In 2022, the club hosted an international Drag meet that attracted competitors from Trinidad and Suriname.

There is an intention to create a Caribbean Drag racing series.

According to Boodhoo, the hope is that if they do move the strip, which will remain at the South Dakota Circuit, it can be completed with corporate support to finish in time to host the Drag racing events.