McFarlane heads JRDC
CHRISTOPHER ‘Teach’ McFarlane was elected president of the Jamaica Race Drivers Club (JRDC) at its annual general meeting at the Liguanea Club, St Andrew, on Tuesday.
McFarlane takes over the organisation’s reins from Captain Marck Carey, who has held the position since December 2011.
“I was nominated. I accepted and ran unopposed,” McFarlane told Auto.
The JRDC is responsible for circuit racing, primarily at Dover Raceway.
McFarlance, who is no stranger to motorsport, unveiled a 10-point plan to build on the foundation left by the previous executives.
“The first six are improvements. I want to improve spectator, competitor, and sponsor participation. We must strive to increase communication in all areas of the club and with our external partners,” he said.
He also wants to see talent within circuit racing get boosted through previously unused channels.
“The Jamaica Millennium Motoring Club (JMMC) has the option to bring FIA (Federation Internationale de l’Automobile) professional training to the island and we’d like to exploit that to raise the level of our hardworking marshals,” he said.
With JamWest Raceway in Westmoreland now ready for its first full season of racing, McFarlane sees this as a chance for drivers to move ahead as well.
“I’d like to change the image of the club from primarily promoting Dover events to one more of developing drivers and the sport in general.”
McFarlane plans to put forward mechanisms to lower costs to teams while increasing competitiveness.
The 2013 JRDC executives include: Norman Minott, vice-president; Don Thompson, treasurer; Monique Gibbs executive secretary; Cressmore White, Silbourne Clarke, Raymond Donaldson, Captain Marck Carey.