GUYANESE ace motor racing driver Mark Vieira showed the driving world that he is still a force to be reckoned with after he crossed the line in first position in the second race of the Suzuki Challenge series Round 3 at the Bushy Park Raceway in Barbados over the weekend.Vieira clocked an overall time of five minutes nineteen point one one nine seconds (05:19.119) over the 4-lap journey.
He achieved a top speed of 120 kilometres per hour with a best time of fifty-nine point eight nine seven seconds (59.897). In the first race, he ended 6th and in the final race he ended 4th. On all three occasions, he picked up valuable points to overcome St Vincent and the Grenadines’ Ryan Gonsales, who was 4th heading into Round 3. Gonsalves now sits 5th.
The leader of the SR3 championship is Barbadian Sean Maloney with 163 points after three rounds: Round 1 (65 points), Round 2 (55 points), and Round 3 (34 points) while Barbadian Mark Maloney is second on 157 points: Round 1 (58 points), Round 2 (38 points), and Round 3 (61 points). Third is Barbadian Stuart Maloney on 153 points: Round 1 (43 points), Round 2 (65 points), and Round 3 (54 points). Mark Vieira sits 4th with 120 -Round 1 (34 points), Round 2 (41 points), and Round 3 (45 points). Ryan Gonsalves is 5th.
It features one-make racing category in which all competitors race in identical vehicles from the same manufacturer utilising the same model.
The same chassis, tyres and engines are used by all drivers.
Success is based on driver skill and car setup instead of engineering skill and budget. The series uses the Radical SR3, powered by Suzuki purpose-built race car and is being held only in Barbados. (Stephan Sookram)