By Stephan Sookram

WITH the days counting down to the first round of the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club’s (GMR&SC)National race of champions 2016, competitors are gearing for what is expected to be an interesting year.One such competitor is Paul Jiwanram, the lone man who pilots the only Suzuki Swift in a Honda and Toyota dominated class. However, this does not present a challenge to the driver who says that with the recent rule change at the group one level, the competition this time around will be tough.
The new rule changes for the group include the tuning of engines’ Electronic Control Units (ECU), and the running of pump-gas which will be bought from a particular gas station on qualification and race-day.
“I’m very confident also with the new rules; it will be a very level playing field but I’ve still got to watch Azad Hassan, Daniel Doekie and Shameer Mohamed.
They are very experienced and it will come down to that,” said the group one driver.
According to the swift-master, work has commenced on his machine, and “there are just minor things that we have got to do to get the car running, It should be ready by this weekend and we are looking forward to this upcoming meet.”
“After the November meet, I did have some seat time but as soon as we finish the car, which might be this weekend, I will be up there getting some more practice,” contended Jiwanram.
He told his fans to be excited for a group one showdown in a fight to the finish for the podium.
Meanwhile, according to the Technical Adviser for GMR&SC Brian Ten Pow, these group one rule changes will allow for closer competition on race-day as well as develop better drivers and mechanics in the long term.
He said that the idea is to ensure that drivers develop their driving skills and not rely on the ability of their cars for race wins.
Jiwanram’s Swift is sponsored by A and R Jiwanram Printery Inc, SmartAid 24h pharmacy, Noble House Seafoods, Eyemax Optical and The Guyana Foundation.