IN a bid to be Jamaica’s leading motorsport facility, JamWest Speedway in Little London, Westmoreland, will host SpeedWest, a two-day event from February 28 to March 1. The meet will feature drag and circuit racing, as well as an import tuner party.

SpeedWest was announced at a press conference held at the offices of the Sports Development Foundation in St Andrew, yesterday .

“The venue has been redesigned with a long-term view for motorsport tourism,” Dean Corrodus, event organiser, told Auto.

SpeedWest will be anchored by a first, the opening round of the Seaboard Marine Caribbean Motor Racing Championship (CMRC), which normally would have been held at Dover Raceway, St Ann. To facilitate the CMRC, there have been several upgrades to the JamWest starting with the circuit itself.

“The event and the change to the track layout are the steps we need to get the circuit on its way to level three FIA certification,” Silbourne Clarke, director Jamaica Race Drivers Club, explained.

The Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) is the world motorsports governing body.

An extra corner has been put in to slow the cars down as recommended by an FIA official. There has also been a lengthening of the track distance and the addition of some extra challenges. All run-off areas have been levelled out and filled with gravel for maximum driver safety. JamWest now boasts a VIP area and an enlarged clubhouse for the general spectators.

This year, the CMRC section of the programme will see qualifying on Saturday and race one of the classes. The final two races for each of the four classes will take place on Sunday.

“Guyana has stated their intention of capturing top honours in all four available classes,” said Clarke.

There will be a strong showing in the bike classes as the combination of local and overseas entrants sees the race ranks swell to 10.

“JamWest is a very fast track with bikes seeing up to 160mph down the front straight, so it should be exciting,” said Kyle Reynolds, bike racer.

Supplementing the CMRC will be two days of drag racing as well, with an import tuner party put on by Kingston-based Skunk Nation on Saturday night in Negril. The entire two days will see coverage from the international media.

“Discovery Channel Canada will be there to capture all aspects of the event,” said Clarke.

Corrodus explained that the promoters have worked hard with the surrounding businesses, such as hotels and car rentals, to provide special rates for those wishing to attend and compete.