The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

The Government is ‘committed’ to building a ‘world class’ motor sports facility in The Bahamas a key Cabinet Minister said yesterday.

The Bahamas Speed Week Revival’s chairman, David McLaughlin noted that the Queen Elizabeth Sports center was one of two “viable” options  for the construction of a race track, revealing that a ‘detailed’ track design had already been submitted for that location.

Dr Daniel Johnson, while speaking at a  press conference hosted by officials of the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), the world governing body for motor sports said that the investment into such a facility would be “well worth it” with wide economic implications for this nation.

“We are committed to building a world class track again. We are going to rebuild a world class track for motor sports in The Bahamas that will have multiple uses. We want to put the Bahamas on the world motor sports tour. This will be a fantastic opportunity for many young Bahamians to learn about racing the technology and mechanics behind racing,” said Dr Johnson.

“We have done it before and hopefully we can do it again. We are looking forward to the IAAF next year and I want us to be a in a position to look forward to world racing in The Bahamas, a signature event next year. We are looking at two venues. I think we have to be guided by the experts of the world governing body to do a facility that suits the part of the circuit we wish to engage in. We hope to be  finished for next year. We want to have an event for next year,” said Dr Johnson.

David McLaughlin, chairman of Bahamas Speed Week Revival, said: “One of the sites is at the QE Sports  centre. We already have a very detailed track design for that. I can say that it is challenged due to the space limitations there.”

Mr McLaughlin noted that the Speed Week event which has now completed its third year has injected almost $3 million into the economy over that period.

He said that there was an expectation of greater by-in from the Bahamian public to real racing.

“We haven’t really engaged the people and that’s because  the nature of that event (Speed Week) with very expensive cars and it hasn’t been real racing. We could build a real circuit down at Arawak Cay. The philosophy behind doing it there was to have the backdrop of the cruise ships and project the image of tourism and I think that that was very valid at the time. When I came here four  years ago, I drew up a five-year plan and it was to Speed Week for three years and then hopefully justify creating  a permanent circuit. People want to see racing - they don’t just want to see nice cars driving around,” said Mr McLaughlin.

Jean Todt, president of the FIA, led a high-level delegation to The Bahamas yesterday on a one-day trip to meet with government officials and local motor sports personalities and get a first-hand look at a fast-growing local auto racing community.