AN excited Brian Pengelley could not believe his luck when his name was picked as the Johnnie Walker charity golf tourney raffle prize winner to watch the US Formula One (F1) Grand Prix race on October 25.

“Total disbelief that I could be so lucky. I actually thought that Cedric (Blair) when he drew my name from the jar was joking as I had told him how much I wanted to win this trip on the Friday evening when he announced it,” said Pengelley.

Pengelley, who said he is a big F1 fan, said he would be cheering on his favourite team and driver in Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes.

“Lewis needs to work on his starts. They are on a three-week break now and if I were in the Mercedes camp I would have him work on his starts. He works so hard to get pole then gives it away at the start,” noted Pengelley.

Hamilton of Great Britain leads the points standing with 202 points ahead of his teammate Nico Rosberg of Germany with 181. Another German Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari is third on 160 points.

“The experience of actually being at the race is so much better than watching it on television,” said Pengelley.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to attend, but I am extremely hopeful that the package will include pit passes as this is really where you can get close to the cars and the drivers which is an opportunity of a lifetime,” he added.

“I am a huge fan of F1 as I have been following it for as long as I can remember. I also follow motor sport in general as I used to rally here in Jamaica and my son raced go-karts, which is where these drivers started at a very competitive level in Canada,” he pointed out.

Pengelley got the opportunity to win the prize because of his partnership in the Golf Classic, which is a fund-raiser for the Learning For Life programme.

“We cannot underestimate this initiative of Diageo and Red Stripe here in Jamaica as it sets a huge example of how critical it is that a business like this gives back to our communities and especially our young people.

“I am personally aware of how extensive and far-reaching the Diageo Learning For Life programme is and how many lives it has touched and so the opportunity to participate and support is indeed gratifying,” he pointed out.