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Jamaica Karting Association drivers negotiate a corner at the Palisadoes International Raceway. The Caribbean Karting Carnival international go-kart race meet will be held here next weekend.

Glenroy Sinclair, Assignment Coordinator

Hundreds of motor fans are expected to cram the corners of the Palisadoes International Raceway, Kingston, next weekend, for the three-day 'Caribbean Karting Carnival' international go-kart race meet.

"The Bajans and Trinidadian karts are here already," said president of the Jamaica Karting Association (JKA), Neil Williams, who is expecting a turnout of at least 100 go-karts at the meet.

Trini karters

According to the JKA, 17 karters from Trinidad and Tobago have been confirmed. They are Gerrard Carrington, Mark Gill, Brent Hurdle, Shahinder Singh, Ravi Singh, David Coelho, Raj Baboolal, John Paul Tannous, Ricardo Arguilera, Nicholas Narine Singh and Fyzool Madan.

Trinidad and Tobago's shifter champion, Ravi Singh, will square off with Jamaica's Peter Moodie Jr, Joel Jackson and Ori Hunt from Barbados, and Matthew Mair, the 2008 Florida winter tour shifter champion. Mair is a Jamaica-based karter living in Miami.

Bajan team

The Bajan team includes Mark Kink, Allan Kink, Luke St John, Orry Hunte, David Evelyn and Matthew Noel.

Like last month's regional circuit racing championship, held at the Dover Raceway in St Ann, next weekend's meet promises to attract a record-breaking crowd attendance at the Kingston track.

The mechanical crews are busy adding the finishing touches to the karts and, at the same time, ensuring that the drivers test-run them on the track to correct what needs to be corrected.

Based on the list of competitors, it could also be one of the biggest international go-kart meets held in Jamaica since 1994, when Denmark's world champion, Gert Munkholm, came here and turned in a scintillating performance, overtaking his rivals at the deep corners of the track. His driving style and tactics were lessons to the locals.

World champions

A number of world champions are lining up for the showdown next week. The list includes Frederico Montoya, a Colombian national who resides in Miami. He was the world Easykart champion two years ago, and has been very active on the international circuit.

Montoya's teammate, Dominic Scheer, is another Easykart champion, who finished in the top 10 of the United States championship. Other big names expected from out of the US are Dore Chaponick, the 2008 Florida Winter Tour Minimax Champion, and Jordan Perry, 2007 Homestead Florida Champion, who will be coming to take on local Minimax champions Colin Daley Jr and Thomas Issa.

Overseas-based Jamaicans

It is summer and some Jamaicans residing or attending school in North America will also be here. Andrew Simmons will arrive on Wednesday. He and his father, Mike, will be competing in the same class. There are also Kyle Gregg, Timothy Stewart and company.

Meanwhile, among the locals who have been bracing themselves for the challenge are young Colin Daley, Thomas Issa and Senna Summerbell. Peter Rae, Peter Moodie Jr, Joel Jackson, Chris Myers are some of the big guns who will leading the charge for Jamaica.

The drivers will compete in nine classes: Baby kart, 80cc, Rotax MiniMax, Yamaha, Rotax Junior, Rotax Senior, Easykart, Rotax Masters and Shifters.