Seventeen karters aged from 11 to 17 from Barbados, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago will face off at Bushy Park Barbados next month (November 4-6) in the second Caribbean Junior Karting Academy Trophy (CJKAT). Funded by the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile’s (FIA) Sport Grant Programme, it will be contested by a quality field selected by the Barbados, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago Karting Associations, including a number of past and present Champions.
Calem Maloney, who was Vice Champion in the inaugural CJKAT in 2019, is one of three regional drivers returning to the competition, along with Jamaica’s Zander Williams, who finished fifth in 2019, and Colin Bradshaw of Barbados. Seven drivers from the host country, six from T&T and four from Jamaica will race identical Vortex-engined Exprit OK-Junior karts, creating a level playing field so results are based on driver talent.
President of the Barbados Motoring Federation (BMF), which is hosting the competition for the second time, Senator Andrew Mallalieu said: “There has been an excellent response from our own Karting Association, also those in Jamaica and Trinidad, so we have an entry of accomplished karters across a broad age range. Not only will this make for some exciting competition, but it also helps create closer links in motor sport around the region.”
CJKAT is modelled on the CIK-FIA Karting Academy Trophy, which has been the first rung on the ladder of the FIA’s single-seater path to F1 since 2010, previous winners including current Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc, who won in 2011 at age 12. To allow more opportunities for Caribbean hopefuls to race, the regional series caters for a wider age range than in Europe, where the limits are 12 to 14 years old.
The programme will start on Thursday, November 3, with a day of training for competitors and volunteer officials before moving into the competitive stage. There will then be three days of racing, each day using a different circuit configuration; the format will be the same each day, practice and qualifying will be followed by three 10-kilometre races and a 15-kilometre Final. More background is to be found on the web site – www.cjkat.com – including profiles of each competitor.
Caribbean Junior Karting Academy Trophy 2022
Bushy Park Barbados, November 4-6
Entry list in alphabetical order
Aaron Blackett (BAR) - 15 (DoB 02/03/07); 2020 Champion Easykart 100cc, BKA
Donche Blackman (BAR) - 14 (DoB 01/02/08); 2020 Easykart 100cc Junior 3rd, BKA
Colin Bradshaw (BAR) - 14 (DoB 16/07/08); 2017 & ’18 Overall Champion, BKA
Brandon Finzi-Smith (JAM) – 16 (DoB 14/10/05); 2016 80cc Champion, JKA
Christian Gajadhar (T&T) – 11 (DoB 19/04/11); 2021 Cadet Championship 3rd, TTKA
Naomi Garcia (T&T) – 12 (DoB 19/11/09); 2022 Sportsman Champion, TTKA
Benjamin Mahon (T&T) – 15 (DoB 26/03/07); 2016 Cadet Championship 3rd, TTKA
Calem Maloney (BAR) - 16 (DoB 13/04/06); 2022 Overall Champion, BKA
Adam Mustapha (T&T) – 14 (DoB 09/08/08); 2022 Sportsman podium finisher, TTKA
Rylie Ramroop (T&T) – 17 (DoB 01/01/05); 2019 Powell Rookie of the Year, TTKA
Aran Sharma (T&T) – 15 (DoB 16/03/07); 2022 novice karter, TTKA
Luke Spencer (JAM) – 12 (DoB 16/03/10); 2021 Rotax Minimax 2nd, JKA
Raizer Stoute (BAR) – 14 (DoB 16/10/08); 2022 Easykart 100cc 4th, BKA
Blake Thompson (BAR) – 12 (DoB 06/09/10); 2019 Easykart 60cc 2nd, BKA
Daniel Ullyett (BAR) – 12 (DoB 26/11/09); 2020 & ‘21 Overall Champion, BKA
Matthew Warmington (JAM) – 12 (DoB 13/03/10); 2021 Rotax Minimax podium finisher
Zander Williams (JAM) - 16 (DoB 10/05/06); 2018 Champion Rotax Minimax, JKA
BKA – Barbados Karting Association; JKA – Jamaica Karting Association; TTKA – Trinidad and Tobago Karting Association