CMRC debut for T&T's Bridget Singh at Bushy Park Barbados
Trinidad & Tobago's Bridget Singh will make her Bushy Park Barbados debut at this weekend's (September 3/4) Williams Digicel International Race Meet in round three of the 2016 Seaboard Marine Caribbean Motor Racing Championship (CMRC). A five-time Kart Champion, she is the daughter of regional veteran Ravi Singh, who will also make his race debut at the redeveloped circuit.
Representing her country for the first time in the CMRC, the 20-year-old will be the lone female racer among approaching 100 entries from home and overseas, who will mix with local fans at Friday's (September 2) final Meet & Greet in the Bushy Park Pits. Co-ordinator Adrian Mayers says: "Everyone is welcome from 5.00pm, it is free to fans, an amazing chance to get close to the visitors and their race cars and bikes; food and drinks will be on sale and DJ 'Scruff' will be hyping the music."
Driving her Racetech/TIMKHA Equipment Rentals Honda Civic in Group 2, Bridget is a member of a strong T&T team, including current points leader Luke Bhola and Reigning Champion Marc Gill, also in Honda Civics, while father Ravi (Mazda RX-7) joins Reigning Champion and current points leader Paul Vieira (RX-7) in Group 3.
Having driven karts from the age of four, Bridget started racing in the 80cc Cadet class when she was nine, winning two titles; after then winning the 100cc Championship twice, she moved up to T&T's most competitive class, Rotax International, finishing third in her first year before adding a fifth Championship to her growing portfolio.
Since starting her circuit-racing career this year, she has managed to place in the top four at all four race meets so far, including sharing victory in a three-hour endurance event with father Ravi. Racing in the local Group 1 during the CMRC round at the Frankie Boodram Wallerfield International Raceway in July, she claimed her first win.
Preparing for her trip, Bridget said: "I'm really looking forward to testing my skills at Bushy Park. Competing in the CMRC Group 2 class will allow me to gain experience as a driver, and I am proud to be representing Trinidad."
Organised by Bushy Park Motor Sports Inc (BPMSI), the weekend's 23-race programme will feature three races each for the CMRC Groups, the Suzuki Challenge Series SR3 Cup and Swift Cup and the BPMSI's 2016 Club Championship, a total of more than 170 racing laps. Hilti Handicap races for cars and bikes will round off the programme.
Photo compliments: Gerrard Wilson Photography
Williams Digicel International Race Meet round-up
+ more than 30 drivers and riders are flying in to the island to compete at the weekend, 12 of them racing at the redeveloped Bushy Park Barbados for the first time
+ competitors are from Canada, Guyana, Jamaica, Martinique and Trinidad & Tobago
+ the Seaboard Marine Superstock Championship has attracted a record entry for Bushy Park, with nine regional competitors facing a six-man local team
+ among competitors who used last Sunday's (August 28) Open Track Day for additional testing were Steve King, who claimed his first CMRC race win at Wallerfield in July, BPMSI Championship leader Geoff Ullyett and front-running bikers Kris Brathwaite, Brook Miller and Terrance Ollivierre
+ patrons who buy VIP Lounge tickets ($125, drinks free, food for sale) for this weekend's event will also enjoy special access to the Pits for a closer look at the regional CMRC entries as part of the Mix'N'Mingle concept introduced last year
+ there will be something for everyone in the Grounds, too, with food stalls including Ackee Tree, BigChillz Ice Cream, Cou-Cou Village, Harrys Danny Burgers, Ling Pong, SIPS and Vincent's Snowcones
Williams Digicel International Race Meet details:
Admission to Testing on Friday, September 2 (gates open 11.00am), and Practice and Qualifying on Saturday, September 3 (gates open 9.00am), is free
Race Day on Sunday, September 4 (gates and ticket booths open 7.30am): General Admission Bds $25; Clubhouse (food and drink on sale) Bds $50; VIP (food on sale, drinks free) Bds $125; children 12 and under are free. Hilti Hammer 4 x 4 Zone vehicle pass Bds $25, Cyclone 4 x 4 Zone vehicle pass Bds $40, plus General Admission pass for each occupant
Coolers (no glass bottles) are welcome in all areas except Clubhouse & VIP
Tickets are now available on-line at www.bushyparkbarbados.com and at the Bushy Park Circuit Office, also at Automotive Art Wildey, CS Pharmacy (Broad Street, Bridgetown), NKM (Hastings Main Road) and Sol Speightstown, Warrens and Wildey. Patrons can buy their advanced tickets using the Massy Card at the Bushy Park Circuit Office and Automotive Art Wildey
Williams Digicel International Race Meet
Bushy Park Barbados, September 3/4 - Provisional timetable
Saturday, September 3
These scheduled starting times may be changed by the Race Director
7.30am - 12.30pm: Scrutineering
9.00am: Practice 1 - CMRC Superstock & BPMSI Bikes, Classes A & B
9.25am: Practice 2 - CMRC Group 2 & BPMSI Group 3/2
9.50am: Practice 3 - CMRC Group 3 & BPMSI Group 3/3
10.15am: Practice 4 - BPMSI Groups 1 & 2
10.40am: Practice 5 - Suzuki Challenge Series SR3 Cup
11.05am: Practice 6 - Suzuki Challenge Series Swift Cup
11.30am: Practice 7 - CMRC Group 4 & BPMSI Group 4
1.00pm: Qualifying 1 - CMRC Superstock & BPMSI Bikes, Classes A & B
1.30pm: Qualifying 2 - CMRC Group 2 & BPMSI Group 3/2
2.00pm: Qualifying 3 - CMRC Group 3 & BPMSI Group 3/3
2.40pm: Qualifying 4 - BPMSI Groups 1 & 2
3.00pm: Qualifying 5 - Suzuki Challenge Series SR3 Cup
3.20pm: Qualifying 6 - Suzuki Challenge Series Swift Cup
3.40pm: Qualifying 7 - CMRC Group 4 & BPMSI Group 4
4:00pm: BKA SDRR Motorsport/Chefette Championship, round 7
Sunday, September 4
These scheduled starting times may be changed by the Race Director
7.55am: National Anthem
8.00am: Race 1 - Seaboard Marine CMRC Superstock & Monster Energy Classes A & B (8 laps)
8.20am: Race 2 - Seaboard Marine CMRC Group 2 & Williams Equipment Group 3/2 (6 laps)
8.40am: Race 3 - Seaboard Marine CMRC Group 3 & Williams Equipment Group 3/3 (6 laps)
9.00am: Race 4 - Percy King Auto Parts Group 1 & Crane & Equipment Group 2 (6 laps)
9.20am: Race 5 - Suzuki Challenge Series SR3 Cup (12 laps)
9.40am: Race 6 - Suzuki Challenge Series Swift Cup (8 laps)
10.00am: Race 7 - Seaboard Marine CMRC Group 4 & BPMSI Group 4 (8 laps)
10.20am: Race 8 - Seaboard Marine CMRC Superstock & Monster Energy Classes A & B (8 laps)
10.40am: Race 9 - Seaboard Marine CMRC Group 2 & Williams Equipment Group 3/2 (6 laps)
11.00am: Race 10 - Seaboard Marine CMRC Group 3 & Williams Equipment Group 3/3 (6 laps)
11.20am: Race 11 - Percy King Auto Parts Group 1 & Crane & Equipment Group 2 (6 laps)
11.40am: Race 12 - Suzuki Challenge Series SR3 Cup (12 laps)
12.00pm: Race 13 - Suzuki Challenge Series Swift Cup (8 laps)
12.20pm: Race 14 - Seaboard Marine CMRC Group 4 & BPMSI Group 4 (8 laps)
Lunch break
1.00pm: Race 15 - Seaboard Marine CMRC Superstock & Monster Energy Bikes, Classes A & B (8 laps)
1.20pm: Race 16 - Seaboard Marine CMRC Group 2 & Williams Equipment Group 3/2 (6 laps)
2.00pm: Race 17 - Seaboard Marine CMRC Group 3 & Williams Equipment Group 3/3 (6 laps)
2.20pm: Race 18 - Percy King Auto Parts Group 1 & Crane & Equipment Group 2 (6 laps)
2.40pm: Race 19 - Suzuki Challenge Series SR3 Cup (12 laps)
3.00pm: Race 20 - Suzuki Challenge Series Swift Cup (8 laps)
3.20pm: Race 21 - Seaboard Marine CMRC Group 4 & BPMSI Group 4 (8 laps)
3.50pm: Race 22 - Hilti Bike Handicap (8 laps)
4.15pm: Race 23 - Hilti Car Handicap (8 laps)
5.30pm: Williams Digicel International Race Meet Prizegiving
Williams Digicel International Race Meet
Overseas participants - * indicates Bushy Park Barbados debut
Seaboard Marine CMRC Superstock
* Kiel Abraham - T&T (Kawasaki ZX-6R)
* Norman Chung - JAM (Yamaha R6)
Luke De Nobriga - T&T (Yamaha R6)
Nicholas Gonzales - T&T (Kawasaki ZX-6R)
Kevin Graham - CAN, rep BAR (Racing Yamaha R6)
* Kyle Reynolds - JAM (Kawasaki ZX-6R)
Elliot Vieira - GUY (Kawasaki ZX-6R) - 2015 Champion
Matthew Vieira - GUY (Yamaha R6)
Stephen Vieira - GUY (Kawasaki ZX-6R) - 2016 Championship leader
* Mario Woon - JAM (Honda CBR600RR)
Seaboard Marine CMRC Group 4
* Frankie Boodram - T&T (Nissan 350Z)
Franklyn Boodram - T&T (Renault Megane Trophy)
Seaboard Marine CMRC Group 3
* Alan Chen - JAM (Toyota Starlet)
Nazim Gafoor - GUY (Mazda Miata)
* Ravi Singh - T&T (Mazda RX-7)
Paul Vieira - GUY, rep T&T (Mazda RX-7) - 2016 Championship leader, 2015 Champion
* Ronald Wortman - T&T (Honda Civic)
Seaboard Marine CMRC Group 2
Daryl Ali - T&T (Honda Civic)
* Luke Bhola - T&T (Honda Civic) - 2016 Championship leader
Marc Gill - T&T (Honda Civic) - 2015 Champion
Haresh Nanan - T&T (Nissan Sentra)
* Shan Seejattan - GUY (Honda Civic)
* Bridget Singh - T&T (Honda Civic)
Suzuki Challenge Series
Pascal Calvel - MTQ (Suzuki Swift Sport)
David Coelho - T&T (Radical SR3 RS)
Kristian Jeffrey - GUY (Radical SR3 RS & Suzuki Swift Sport)
Calvin Ming - GUY (Radical SR3 RS)
* Timothy Stewart - JAM (Suzuki Swift Sport)
Mark Vieira - GUY (Radical SR3 RS)