Dragster Charane joins male drivers for Launch Control 3

FREE admission for some and the debut of another female dragster.

 

Those are some of the ingredients that will make up Launch Control 3 organsied by the Barbados Association of Dragsters and Drifters on July 1 at Bushy Park.

 

The free admission will be for fans holding admission tickets for the rained-out May 20, Launch Control 2, while fans will get to see Charane Catwell become only the second female to suit up for a drag racing event in Barbados.

 

She will be looking to upstage her well-known father, Greg ‘Cheezie’ Catwell and brother Tramaine and all others facing the starter in the 8.5-9 seconds for the day/ night event starting at 3 p.m.

 

Charane will be at the wheel of a well-prepared Diahatsu Charmant, at one time driven successfully by her brother.

 

“She is not totally green to the sport as she has gone to the start line in the past, but I have asked her to pace herself and to be cautious,” her father told NATION SPORT.

 

The spa therapist will be joining five other rookies who faced the starter in a list of over 40 drivers at Launch Control 2.

 

They are Renaldo Barnes and David Nelson, who will both be driving Subarus; Alec Doodnauth, in a Toyota Starlet; Adrian Harewood, in a Nissan Skyline and Stephen McAllister, who will be the wheel of a Honda Civic.

 

It is understood that drivers such as Marlon Bell, Dario Brathwaite, Dylan Foster, Bradley Howell and stylish Jerun White are expected to be among the drifters seeking to stamp authority as to “who can hold the longest drift”.

 

The dragsters will be looking to add to their points in the absence of champion driver Dan Johnson.

 

With his absence, it will be a straight fight among the Mitsubishi drivers for top honours as the season moves into high gear.

 

Fastmen such as Robert Bishop, in a Skyline, Chris Brathwaite and Jimmy Small, in similar machines, and Steve Bruce, in a selfprepared Lancer Evolution, are expected to face the starter. Also competing will be St Vincent and the Grenadines’ Ignition 2018 champion Nicholas Pinto, in a Mitsubishi Colt.

 

The returning Pedahel Williams, in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI, will also be fancying his chances of upsetting the in-form drivers.

 

by TREVOR THORPE