Gore, Rae and Summerbell

Despite the impact of the global recession, the country's top circuit racing drivers will be out in droves for next Sunday's big 'Independence Blast Off' race meet, at Dover Raceway, St Ann.

"No, this global recession will not deter me from racing," argued Doug 'Hollywood' Gore, one of the crowd favourites for the upcoming meet. "In fact, it is the first time in my career that I have been approached by so many sponsors. I had to recommend other drivers to them," boasted Gore.

He has been offered the use a brand new engine for this race meet, courtesy of an American manufacturer, Manley Company, of Nascar fame in the United States.

a surprise for Summerbell

"With this engine, I now have a surprise for David Summerbell. Let's see if he can sprint away from me. It is going to be an interesting race meet," said Gore.

In response, Summerbell, who established a new track record at the previous meet, only had a few words for him: "Catch me if you can".

Veteran driver, Peter 'Zum Zum' Rae, argued that although the impact of the global recession is bearing down on him, he will be coming all out and maybe spring some surprises.

Chris Campbell, who won his maiden race at the last race meet, is expected to give another stellar performance. Although they have not been visiting the winner's enclosure regularly, the Kingston-based Bayley brothers (George, Robert and Tony) seem to have done their homework and are ready for action.

Another interesting entry will be Victor Handal, who has done some improvement to his Subaru Impreza WRX.

According to Dean Corrodus in his report, some drivers are reportedly getting ready to step up from the IP45 category and enter the faster classes available; one such notable competitor is Raymond Donaldson, who is the defending IP45 champion, with his well-prepared Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII. He should be joined in the IP27 category by teammate Charles Maxwell in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution V, racing out of the CRC camp, both cars tuned by HS Engineering and prepared by Maxwell himself.