Persevering through a pandemic – The story of Jared Ramnaryan
Jared Ramnaryan
Jared Ramnaryan

FOR most, 2021 was not a year of triumphs; many spent their days in lockdown due to the global pandemic that is COVID-19. But that isn’t the case for overseas-based Guyanese Jared Ramnaryan.

From his entry into the Canadian Karting scene when he was first featured in the Guyana Chronicle Sports Section, Ramnaryan has been putting in the hard work.

So much so that he bagged the 2021 Open shifter class of the Motomasters Ron Fellows Karting Championship (MRFKC), a trophy which was presented to him earlier this year.

Jared Ramnaryan in the PRO racing team’s shifter kart

According to his father and former grass track champion, Keith Ramnaryan, this is something of which the family is very proud.

“First of all, I’m a very proud father and I am very happy for him. All the hard work and sacrifices that he made, it’s paying off right now. For me, the sacrifices that I made as a father, I felt that I have achieved something (through him).”

Completing his studies at the Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) in Canada, the youngster had decided in 2021, once racing resumed to focus fully on the sport.

Tracking his progress through his early years in 2018 and his exclusive interview with the Guyana Chronicle in 2019, the younger Ramnaryan has grown exponentially, according to his father.

“I would say, from then to now he is much better. He is 90% better than where he was in 2019 when we first spoke, because of his experience driving in the US.

“Last year both myself and Jared went to the United States (Florida and Miami) for the winter tour and the experience he gained from the US drivers and the European drivers as well as former Formula 1 driver Rubens Barrichello,. I think driving against those guys he got a lot of experience. I think that’s one of the reasons he is where is today.”

“Secondly, he is more involved in the driver development programme and all those things contributed to his success during the year,” Ramnaryan continued.

Discipline and Fitness
Another key factor in Jared’s rise to the top was his focus on fitness and discipline.

“When he wasn’t in on track racing, he was working on his fitness, day in, day out. It isn’t an easy thing to have that sort of fitness. It’s a discipline to ensure that you are ready both physically and mentally to go out there and compete with guys who are looking for the same result as you are,“ the senior Ramnaryan said.

“And on race weekends, we would have to wake up early to ensure we got to the track in time, sometimes as early as 05:30hrs, because we had team briefings and other things before the actual race started. Over time (from 2019) we got used to it but it takes an amazing amount of discipline to ensure that it works.

“And I don’t have to tell you about the physical aspect of the actual weekend,” Keith said, underscoring that some races are more gruelling than others.

“There are times where we would have to just relax for a few days after a karting weekend or just do light training because it isn’t easy. But there is where I saw the thirst in his (Jared) eyes and I knew that this is what he wants to do and I have to support him.”

Future Plans
With COVID-19 here to stay, the senior Ramnaryan has had to re-evaluate his plans, saying, “One of his plans for 2022 is that he will continue racing in Canada, more driving in the United States as well but that depends on COVID-19.

“At the moment, however, that’s our target. Driving in the United States with those drivers, you gain more experience, you gain more aggression and there is always something for you to learn.”

When asked where he sees his son ending up if he continues along the current path of growth and development, the senior Ramnaryan said, “Our ultimate goal is to get him racing in Europe. As you know, the sport is very competitive out there, the standard of racing is to the highest level and there you have drivers from all over the world.”

“And if possible, we may be able to get him into car-racing. But again, we have to see what happens with the pandemic. But that is my dream, to see him go from karting to the touring cars in Europe.”

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