Redford stars with sensational victory at historic Guyana Grand Prix

British driver Will Redford sent a wave of euphoria through local fans at the newly transformed South Dakota Circuit on Sunday, storming to a historic victory in the opening GT Challenge de las Américas GTS class race.

Representing the One Guyana Racing team under the Bourne/Peter Lewis Construction banner, Redford’s breakthrough performance marked a landmark moment for the host nation during the inaugural Guyana Grand Prix.

The 20-year-old’s masterclass in the 24-lap opener showed maturity well beyond his years, as while leading his class, Redford played a calculated waiting game before executing a brilliant overtake on GTS Turbo class leader Tatiana Calderon, sending a shockwave of cheers through the grandstands.

He crossed the line in 32 minutes and 1.276 seconds, comfortably clearing the tandem of Solly Betesh and Luis Ramirez by over five seconds, while also pocketing the fastest lap of the race – 1:18.267 – in wet conditions.

Tears, tight embraces, and unbridled celebration erupted in the pit lane as raw emotions took over the local outfit, who have invested heavily in elevating Guyana’s motorsport infrastructure.

Redford later capped off a stellar, unforgettable weekend by driving to a resilient second-place finish in race two behind Guatemala’s Carlos Hernandez, solidifying a dream double-podium for the home franchise.

Speaking after the historic event, One Guyana Racing team member Nazurdeen ‘Junior’ Mohamed praised the collaborative effort that put local motorsport on the map, and thanked the Government of Guyana for upgrading the circuit to international standards.

He also affirmed the team’s long-term commitment to their young star, hinting at future international touring campaigns in the United Kingdom.

On the domestic side of the card, Group Two maestro Shan Seejatan endured a rollercoaster afternoon.

Despite qualifying on pole for the opening race, mechanical gremlins cruelly denied the local ace a podium spot, allowing British touring car driver Paul Rivett to take the honours for AJM.

However, Seejatan bounced back in spectacular fashion in race two, storming to a redemption victory ahead of Rivett to send the home crowd into raptures.

Rivett nevertheless enjoyed a highly productive weekend across the support bills, pairing his Group Two victory and second-place finish with a hard-fought third place in Group Three, where Stefan Jeffrey completely dominated by sweeping both races.

Meanwhile, heavy rainfall throughout the day meant the highly anticipated CELAC Superbike championship could not take place.

The GT Challenge de las Américas series now packages its paddock for Barbados in August, but under a lucrative five-year agreement, the prestigious championship is locked in to make its highly anticipated return to Guyanese soil through 2027.

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FULL RESULTS: https://speedhive.mylaps.com/livetiming/F7CCAF50F3BE1B98-2147484081

PROVISIONAL RESULTS

FULL RESULTS: https://speedhive.mylaps.com/livetiming/F7CCAF50F3BE1B98-2147484081

PROVISIONAL RESULTS