Kart king crowned
RYAN Lue was the big winner at the Jamaica Karting Association’s (JKA) awards ceremony held at the Spanish Court Hotel in New Kingston recently.
The nine-year-old snagged karting’s top prize, the 2015 Abe Zaidie Award along with the 80cc class trophy. He also took home a third award, the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile) Americas National Junior Sportsman as nominated by the Jamaica Millennium Motoring Club (JMMC).
The Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) is the world motorsports governing body, while the JMMC is its local representative.
“It felt good to win. I was excited when they told me and I plan to defend my championship this year,” he told
Auto.
Lue’s achievement comes only two years into his karting career and he will be moving up to the faster 125cc minimax class for 2016. To keep his skills sharp before the start of the Jamaica karting season later in the year, Lue will contest the Florida Winter Tour in Homestead, USA this weekend.
“Winning the championship wasn’t on our list, but I realised that it could happen as we got down to the later meets. I didn’t mention it to him because I wanted to keep him focused on driving,” his father Craig Lue explained.
Lue thanked Guy Eaton and his Comer50 programme for getting his son started in the sport.
“The Florida Winter Tour offers something that’s not available here — the experience of having to deal with a packed field — as there’s usually up to thirty karts per race. This should help him significantly here in Jamaica,” Lue said.
Collin Daley Jr and William Myers placed second and third in the points chase for the Abe Zaidie Championship. Other champions on the night were Senna Summerbell for the minimax class. Rotax Junior went to Justin Sirgany, Seniors — Collin Daley Jr, and Masters — Peter Moodie Jr. All the 50cc competitors received trophies for their particpation.
— Rory Daley