Scenes from last year's international go-kart meet, held at the Palisadoes Raceway, Kingston. this year's event is expected to be just as exciting. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer.

Government officials will play a critical role this week, to facilitate the running of the big international go-kart race meet, which is scheduled to take place on the weekend, at Palisadoes International Raceway.

Executive members of the Jamaica Karting Association (JKA) are in dialogue with the Ministry of Finance, hoping for them to extend the usual courtesy, so karts belonging to several world champions can be cleared in time for the meet.

"About 27 karts have arrived last week and the drivers should have started arriving yesterday," said Neil Williams, vice president of the JKA, who spoke with Automotive on Friday.

At least 200 tourists from the United States, Canada, Barbados, Aruba, Italy, Brazil and The Dominican Republic are expected to attend the event and this should have a positive spin-off on Jamaica's economy.

Williams further disclosed that Jonathan Arenas, of Aruba, was the driver expected to arrive on Saturday. Arenas will be competing in the Senior Rotax Class.

"An additional two drivers from the Dominican Republic will be coming, but they will be renting karts here," said Williams.

This week, the 1.2-kilometre-long track will be buzzing with excitement, as most of the overseas drivers should have arrived and begun getting acclimatised to the FIA Class 'A' international rated track, which is 30m in width. Two years ago, the facilities supporting the tracking were upgraded with a new pit area, proper kerbing, tyre barriers, hot pit section and adequate covered seating.

It is located on a small peninsula north of the Norman Manley International Airport and is bordered on three sides by the sea, with the beautiful Kingston Harbour and the irport in the background.

lower lap times

Despite their knowledge of every crevice and corner of the track, the Jamaicans have been 'burning up' the track in practice sessions and in some instance, lowering their lap times.

The new JKA's motto is 'Creating World Class Drivers', but can they beat the world class drivers, they will be competing against? It will be interesting to see how well Peter Moodie Jr and Joel Jackson hold off the challenges of Canada's Fitz Leesman, and Matthew Mair, a Jamaican who races on the Miami circuit.

According to reports, Leesman is one of the top karters on the Canadian circuit. His teammate, Oliver Sirola, also has had a successful stint.