Local motorsport back with a bang

Western Bureau:

Local motorsport returned with a bang as the Radical Invasion 2022 on Easter Monday served up excitement for a bumper crowd that turned out at the Dover Raceway in St Ann.

Iconic driver Doug 'Hollywood' Gore was pleased with the turnout as motorsport has been absent from the local scene for two years due to the pandemic.

"We had over 7,000 paid patrons. We think it could have been even more if people were not expecting rain. Thankfully, the rain spared us and we had a great race day, as we had a bumper crowd and exciting racing. I think we did really well, with it being just four weeks of planning," Gore said.

The only disappointment on the day came as Formula Woman driver Sara Misir did not get to grace the track in front of the thousands of fans who came out to see her for the first time.

"I am so happy to see so many people here supporting the local racers, the vendors and all who have been here from the beginning. I love it, even if I'm not racing. I am happy to be here and see it happening," said Misir, who explained her absence from the track.

"We were doing really well, but of course, in motorsports, anything can happen from time to time, and yesterday evening the engine just met the end of its lifetime," added the RJRGLEANER Sports Foundation Awards 2021 Motorsport Athlete of the Year.

While drivers were excited to be back on the track winning races, they were even more delighted to see thousands of fans back supporting motorsports after a two-year layoff.

Senna Summerbell, the first winner on the day of the Thundersport2 Race One, said the feeling was "great".

"It's a great feeling to win the first race of the day. I came into this weekend as an underdog, as it's my first-ever event in a radical Thundersport 2 class. I didn't expect it, to be honest, not having enough seat time, as the other drivers and the car is a bit restricted," Summerbell said.

"It's amazing to see the spectators and sponsors that came out. I have to show appreciation to my sponsors Tropical Battery and Q8 Oils. It's good to have everybody back as a community in racing," he added.

Nicholas Barnes, who took the Modified Production 2, said it was good to be back and winning.

"It's a phenomenal feeling, trust me. We've been absent from motorsports for two years. It's good to be back, and back to winning ways. We have been doing some work in the downtime, so I am happy with the results," Barnes said.

"It's a great feeling here with the fans. The love from the crowd is just awesome," he added.