After the COVID-19 restrictions were lifted to allow many sectors, including motor sport, to reopen, the Trinidad & Tobago Rally Club (TTRC) realized it would have to adapt, and the decision was made to host a Hill-Climb. Whilst searching for appropriate locations, the clubs’ years of Rally Tobago came up. The Tobago Motorsport Association (TMA), the head body for motor sport in Tobago are doing great things; they were contacted and agreed to partner with the Rally Club to bring the Hill-Climb to fruition in Tobago. The cooperation amount the two organizations set the tone for an epic event.
Much gratitude to the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) who threw their full support behind this one-of-a-kind motor-sport event. The two organizations started to work on this event – zoom meetings, visits to the sister isle.. work and adventure for some months that culminated on the weekend of August 12-14, in a first of its type- a Hill-climb which would allow different vehicles of varying specifications and disciplines to come together under the same event. This was to promote motor sport within the country and to make a push to promote Tobago as a motor-sport tourism centre within the region.
The line-up consisted of Rally cars, circuit cars such as the Miatas, and even a father and son team Haresh and Nikhil Nanan, competing against each other. There was also a contingent representing Tobago, brothers – Mark and Richard Mohammed. A notable mention for two special circuit cars – the Radical SR3 driven by Ravi Singh and the Renault Megan trophy, driven by Zachary Boodram a name well-known in motor sport for two generations.
The Tobago Hill-Climb Festival 2022 began on Friday 12 August with a car display at the Lowlands Mall in front of Johnny Q Pub House and Lust Restaurant and Lounge. The cars were scrutineered to ensure safety standards and the large crowd was drawn to the multi-coloured livery’s racing machines and the different loud sounds made by revving up the high-powered engines. Teams were on hand to meet and greet fans as well as the event briefing.
Saturday greeted the competitors with rain on Belmont Road in Hope, but this did not dampen the spirits of the competitors. Only one of the 7 planned runs was cancelled. The day provided lots of action for the fans in attendance, especially as a few of the teams got a closer look of beautiful scenery than they would have liked.
On Sunday the parade grounds at next to the Dwight Yorke Stadium. Here a course was designed, and 4 competitive stages were run, followed by 2 fun runs and then, to complete a weekend of exciting motorsport, an amazing display of skills by drift cars and karts. The activities highlighted the talent of motor sport in T&T.
The amphitheatre-like layout encouraged crowds of Spectators to camp on the grounds and enjoy the spectacular end to indeed an epic weekend of motorsport in Tobago.
The results were as follows:
Fastest Up the Hill-Climb 2WD – Car 02 in 1 minute 55 seconds – Ravi Singh – Radical
Fastest Up the Hill-Climb 4WD – Car 05 in 2 minutes 6 seconds – Craig Sumair – EVO 9
Overall 1st – Car 02 in 4 minutes 48 seconds – Ravi Singh
Overall 2nd – Car 14 in 5 minutes 4 seconds – Justin Wortman – Mazda Miata
Overall 3rd – Car 15 in 5 minutes 6 seconds – Ryan Peyrau – Mazda Miata
Overall 2WD 1st – Car 02 in 4 minutes 48 seconds – Ravi Singh
Overall 2WD 2nd – Car 14 in 5 minutes 4 seconds – Justin Wortman – Mazda Miata
Overall 2WD 3rd – Car 15 in 5 minutes 6 seconds – Ryan Peyrau – Mazda Miata
Open Class 1st – Car 02 in 4 minutes 48 seconds – Ravi Singh
Group A 1st – Car 05 in 5 minutes 12 seconds – Craig Sumair
Super Modified 1st – Car 18 in 5 minutes 36 seconds – Harold Morley – BMW
Group 1 1st – Car 11 in 5 minutes 29 seconds – Damien Nesbit – Nissan Sentra B13
Miata Cup – Car 14 in 5 minutes 4 seconds – Justin Wortman
We would like to especially thank our sponsors: Tobago House of Assembly (T.H.A), Massy Motors Tobago, Ultra Lubricants, Johnny Q Pubhouse, PBS Technologies, LUST Restaurant & Lounge, SHEPPY’s Auto Rental Ltd., T.E.M.A., KNA Enterprises and CASL – distributor of Repsol. A vote of thanks to Officials, Marshals, Media, Police Officers, Fire Services and Emergency Response Teams for their throughout the weekend.
