THE 2022 circuit-racing season culminates on Heroes’ Day, Monday, October 17 at Dover Raceway, St Ann, as the Jamaica Race Drivers Club (JRDC) hosts the traditional Heroes of Speed meet.

“I’m expecting a bumper crowd. I’m expecting this race meet to be the biggest for the year, and we expect clean, competitive racing,” Junior Barnes, chairman of the JRDC, told the Jamaica Observer’s weekly Auto magazine.

Barnes is bullish on the meet based on the performances of the three previous meets and the return of some popular names to the sport.

“We have Oliver Townsend, who has been out all year, he’s back. We have Sebastian Rae as well, amongst the several others that will be returning, so we expect all classes to have at least eight to 10 cars,” Barnes explained.

The old guard will have to contend with a fresh crop of talent of the likes of Senna Summerbell, who made a big splash with his move to the top class in the sport, Thundersport.

“There’s no changes to the team or car because everything seems to be working well,” said Summerbell.

So far this season Summerbell has dominated the class in his Radical sports car, winning the majority of races and setting a new lap record in the process.

“It’s been very nerve-wracking at first when I moved to Thundersport, but now I feel very comfortable racing against the best drivers locally, and I hope to keep getting better,” he added.

His main competition has been several other Radical drivers, including the man who began the Radical influx, Kyle Gregg. Gregg has shown flashes of his former self; however, mechanical issues have kept him from fully challenging for the championship, something he recognises.

“We’re not in the fight. I’m currently third in the points so I can only get second. We were quickest last meet but had mechanical problems throughout the day,” said Gregg.

Officially out of the battle, there’s only one mode for Gregg.

“It’s all out this meet as it’s the last meet of the year. We do have some suspension upgrades, which will help, hopefully,” he said.