The Jamaica Race Drivers Club (JDRC) is positive that it will have a better 2025 and field a full season of four race meets to satisfy fans and competitors alike.

This was the takeaway from the club’s first meeting of the year at the Fidelity Motors showroom, downtown Kingston, on January 10.

“Our outlook for 2025 is very positive because members of the board have good outreach to the drivers. I think we’ve successfully recovered from Hurricane Beryl and we’re really looking to Easter in a positive way,” Charles Chen, chairman, JRDC, told the Jamaica Observer’s weekly Auto magazine.

Chen took over the club last year with support from its members that his leadership can handle the current troubles facing the motorsports entity. Rising costs, significant debt, pressure from creditors, and dwindling interest from drivers and patrons alike have been afflicting the JRDC, impacting its financial bottom line, and threatening its very existence. Things got worse when Hurricane Beryl smashed into the island affecting the club’s home circuit, Dover Raceway, in St Ann.

“Last year it was pretty much the hurricane and drivers lost interest for several reasons. I think, mainly, a lack of communication and a lack of outreach,” explained Chen.

He lauded his current board on their direction to rebuild circuit racing in Jamaica. The hope is to begin with the basic premise of removing as many barriers as possible to bring back racers to the track in greater numbers, which in turn creates more variety in the races and increases spectator interest.

“There’s always been a kind of polarisation in the community and I think we have the best opportunity, because Kevin (Gardener), and Ian (Galbraith), they seem to not be polarising in their desire to have everyone race,” he said.

The club has listed its usual public holiday race meets on the 2025 motorsports event calendar and is working against the financial odds to host its traditional season-opener on Easter Monday in April. The club has yet to secure an agreement with a partner as it attempted to divest the running and marketing of events with a tender last year.

“We’re looking, and it’s still on the table. We have to find someone. It’s our intention for the club to be a club, and we have a business partner to run the events. That still stands,” he said.

Chen also promised greater transparency into the club’s happenings for its members.

— Rory Daley