GUYANA’S first Formula driver Calvin Ming says that he is ready for his Formula 4 demonstration run this weekend in the final leg of the Caribbean Motor Racing Championships.Ming and his F4 car, which arrived last week, were introduced to the media during a special briefing yesterday at the Ming’s Products and Services Georgetown office.
Calvin is very excited to showcase his international side to the Guyanese crowd and disclosed that “racing is definitely something that I’ve loved since I was a kid.
“I started racing from the age of 6 or 7 and as my dad was saying earlier, I moved to the United States just a year or two ago and I started racing karts.”
“At first, when I started racing karts in the States, I raced in three club meets and at all three club meets I was able to podium,” beamed the young driver.
He added for this demonstration on Sunday, several changes must be made to the car, especially suspension and ride height-wise as the South Dakota Circuit is very bumpy and uneven in certain parts.
Meanwhile his father Stanley, also one of the main sponsors of the venture, indicated that he is now reaping the benefits of his drive to give his son the best possible chances to excel in his racing career.
“I noticed his skill since about 6 or 7 and I saw that he had talent, so we decided to start him off in karts, and here he is today, a F4 competitor, said the senior Ming, a former racer.
He added, “One of the aims of bringing the car and Calvin to Guyana is to show them that with the right resources and the right tools, we can have a Guyanese at the top flights of motor sport and we want others to notice this as well.”
One of the common misconceptions, the senior Ming pointed out, was the fact that persons think the car is expensive to maintain, something he dispelled, adding that the only required changes per race meet are brake pads, tyres and fuel.
He noted that as it sits, it is cheaper to maintain and build than a Group 4 car.
Also present was Chairman of the Caribbean Motor Racing Association, Ray Rahaman, who indicated that this is a new tier for the development of not only Guyanese racing but the Caribbean at large.
Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club captain Andrew King also stated that what Ming has achieved is a major milestone and encouraged him to challenge himself to greater heights.
The proceedings were chaired by veteran Public Relations Consultant, Kit Nascimento, himself a former motor-racer.,
Ming will showcase his 1600 cc Mygale F4 car on Sunday at the Final CMRC leg at the South Dakota Circuit.

By Stephan Sookram