While veteran racer Peter Rae contemplates retirement, the other Rae in motorsport, his nephew Sebastian, was on the verge of leaving the sport as well until sponsor IMCA Jamaica, via their Mobil 1 oil brand, stepped in to ensure that the Rae name doesn’t disappear from the local leaderboards just yet.

“I have to thank IMCA because we were about to quit as the racing had gotten too expensive for my pockets. The car was up for sale and I was ready to stop until they came on board for the Heroes of Speed meet,” Rae told the Jamaica Observer’s Auto magazine.

The 12-month sponsorship deal has extended Rae’s racing career, which began around age 13, for another year at least. With Peter Rae as his uncle, Sebastian has followed a similar path bolstered by plenty of familial support.

“Uncle Rae has been a major inspiration to me,” he said.

Having started on bikes at age four, he moved to four wheels by age 13, carving out a notable karting career of which the highlight was winning at the Red Bull Smokin Streets event in 2006. Uncle Peter’s influence continued as at age 17, Sebastian was handed his uncle’s former single-seat racer. Success continued and Sebastian was hooked on circuit racing.

“I had to get my own car, so I did — a Mitsubishi MIVEC.”

By 2012 he was Jamaica’s Circuit racing champion and had won the Caribbean Motor Racing Championship’s Group 2 class. Like many drivers he went through a stable of machinery, including a second Mitsubishi Colt RS MIVEC, the infamous Magnum, all the way up to his current Honda Civic, which clinched him the 2018 Improved Production class three championship.

“Racing is my drug. I don’t drink. I don’t party. It’s just racing.”

Sebastian isn’t sure what 2019 will bring motorsport-wise, but he’s sure to continue the Rae tradition like his much-heralded Uncle Rae.

— RORY DALEY