Caribbean Junior Karting Academy Trophy (CJKAT) Recognized for Advancing Motor Sport in the Region at 2023 FIA American Congress
August 19, 2023
The Caribbean Junior Karting Academy Trophy (CJKAT) received recognition at the 2023 FIA American Congress for its contribution to motorsport development in the region. David Williams, VP of the Barbados Motoring Federation, highlighted the importance of nurturing young drivers in a sustainable regional championship. The event also discussed the growth of Esports in the Americas and ways to increase participation in motorsports. CJKAT is modeled after the CIK-FIA Karting Academy Trophy, supported by the FIA Sport Grant Program and administered by the BMF.
The success of the Caribbean Junior Karting Academy Trophy (CJKAT) and its ongoing contribution to the development of motor sport in the region was lauded at the recent 2023 FIA American Congress in Guatemala.
David Williams, vice-president of the Barbados Motoring Federation (BMF) which administers CJKAT, was among speakers who addressed the Congress in the presence of FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem and other members of the FIA leadership team.
More than 170 delegates from 26 countries attended the event, which was supported by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) Region III and IV and the North America and South America FIA sport regions.
During the three-day event, the development of Esports in the Americas as well as exploring ways to increase participation in motor sports was discussed.
Williams, who presented his CJKAT report as part of the Sport Club Empowerment segment, explained: “The presentation concentrated on the importance of developing young drivers by creating a sustainable regional championship working with the ASNs in other Caribbean territories to implement the FIA ASN development series concept. It also dealt with the role the media has to play with coverage on both print and electronic platforms.
“As well as the main content of the CJKAT presentation, I made particular mention of Naomi’s achievement in winning in Jamaica, which we hope will lead to greater things. I also mentioned Zane Maloney and the fact that he started his motor sport journey karting in Barbados. While most delegates clearly knew him as last year’s FIA Rookie Champion, they had not heard the phrase ‘The Boy from Barbados’, which proved very popular,” Williams said.
CJKAT is modelled on the CIK-FIA Karting Academy Trophy which has been the first rung on the ladder of the FIA’s single-seater path to F1 since 2010 and funded by the FIA Sport Grant Programme and administered by the BMF.
After the inaugural event at Bushy Park Barbados in 2019, the annual competition was interrupted by the pandemic and the second CJKAT was not run until November 2022. The third edition took place at the Palisadoes International Raceway in Jamaica last month.
More than 30 kart racers from Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago aged between 11 and 17 years have taken part, 19 of them 13 or younger at the time of their participation. Barbadians Adam Mallalieu and Calem Maloney were the champions in 2019 and 2022 respectively.
(RB/PR)
