Double awards for Kyle Gregg
LAST week Saturday was another watershed moment for racer Kyle Gregg. He not only won the RJR Sportsman award in the motorsports category, but also was in Panama to receive a Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) Americas Award.
The FIA is the world motorsports governing body.
“For me, to be recognised by the same organisation that gives awards to the likes of Lewis Hamilton, and Sebastien Ogier is awesome,” Gregg told Auto.
At 25, this is his second FIA Americas Award of his career.
“This one has more value because I’m more aware of its significance now,” he said.
Gregg as 2014 circuit racing champion joined other Jamaica Millennium Motoring Club (JMMC) nominated recipients, Thomas Issa, in the karting category and Dr Parris Lyew-Ayee Jr, who won the FIA Americas Mobility Award.
“Kyle’s performance over the year has been more than creditable in both circuit and rally, so it was important for him to be recognised,” said Peter Clarke, JMMC president.
His plans for 2015 are clear as his contract with long-time sponsor of his circuit racing is now up for renegotiation.
“It’s straight rallying for me,” he explained.
Gregg is enthused by his sport of choice, as it seems to be on the path for a huge resurgence as both Douglas Gore and Jeffery Panton have been making hints that they plan to return in the Group N class.
“The circuit is up for sale, and I spoke with Total to see if they would follow me into rallying,” he said.
He thanks his other supporters and sponsors, BD Gregg, Peter Moodie Motorsports, Ian Webb and Xavier Murray for keeping him at the top of motorsport.
The news continues to be good for the young star, as on February 7 he’ll be officially recognised as the winner of last November’s Rally Jamaica 2014.
“The second day of that rally is the hardest I’d ever driven,” he said.
Gregg revealed that he’d been given the good ahead by his father, Gary, to go all out, while stepfather Jeffrey Panton had calculated he needed to give the leader, Joel Jackson, six seconds per stage to claw back his over one minute deficit. Gregg said his eventual victory came about due to the adherence to the advice he offers to the next generation of drivers.
“Just keep cool and drive hard.”
— Rory Daley
