Kick-off to the 2005 series brought some new machines to the starting grid. Can we look forward to seeing an insurgence of AWD power on the circuit track?

 

Wallerfield Racing Complex, Trinidad & Tobago
Photography by Narend Sooknarine

TTMF Circuit Racing is definitely making an upward thrust in Trinidad & Tobago. This year we hear a new racing class is going to be introduced alongside the existing Group 1 Sentra Stock Cars and the Group 2 A & B production and modified production classes. Group 3 will fill the void once left by the old TTASA GTU (GT unlimited) racing class with similar regulations. For now it seems that some cars destined for Group 3 will continue to run detuned in Group 2, until Group 3 is fully regulated and subscribed.

This time around we saw a main contender Gary Hunt (#135) drop out of Group 2 competition with his NP Ultra sponsored red Civic Type R hatchback due to engine trouble. We have been reliably informed that this engine problem was not in any way related to the use of NP Ultra Synthetic Oil. Gary continued to compete in Group 1 driving the Nestlé Orchard Vibe sponsored blue B13 Sentra race car. We expected domination of Group 2A by Ravi Singh (#75) in his Chevron sponsored yellow FD Rx7 and Frank Boodram (#45) in the black Castrol Syntec sponsored Civic hatchback, however this was not to be. Instead, March 6th was a date made more significant by the appearance of a new machine on the Circuit in Group 2A– Daniel Ramoutarsingh's (#76) newly prepped white Trinrico sponsored Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 6 racecar.

It was clear that Daniel was driving conservatively and was still getting used to the upgrade from his old Mivec hatchback turbo, however, the car's straightline power and cornering prowess was easily recognizable. Ravi and Frankie had to work together to keep Daniel behind since it was obvious that the Evo was running away on the main straightaway. With the evolution's natural tendency to understeer into a corner, Daniel had to manage his corner entry after the main straight and even managed to get sideways a few times which in one race, cost him the win. All the other Group 2 races though, were a different story–Daniel even managed to set an unofficial fastest lap record at Wallerfield of 44.44 seconds.

Group 1 action continued with the main battle being between David Coelho(#17), Aslim Ali (#5) and Gary Hunt (#135) for the 1-2-3. Frank Boodram Jr. in his Castrol Syntec Blend sponsored CRX (#445) took the checkered flag in Group 2B. In the most exciting final handicap race, Ravi managed to hold off Daniel for a long time using traffic to his advantage but in the end the white Evolution's power was just too much and Daniel made quick work of the slower cars on the straight. We can't wait for the next meet to see if Ravi and Frankie come out with more engine power to catch Daniel's blistering Evo6.

 

Continue on to the next page for Photo Coverage!