CMRC: Doug Gore dominates Dover with his ABT-Audi TT-R

By Johan Laubscher

The Caribbean Motor Racing Championship (CMRC) got underway at Dover in Jamaica last weekend. Two Audi race cars were entered in the event: The ATL Automotive ABT-Audi TT-R driven by Doug Gore and the extensively modified Audi A4 STW driven by Doug Maloney.

Dover is Jamaica’s premiere race circuit and Doug Gore has been unbeaten so far this year, within all the Jamaican events. Gore competes for the Team Jamaica squad within the CMRC competitors, listed by their Caribbean country of origin. It is the second season that the ABT-Audi TT-R has been allowed in the CMRC. The car arrived in the Caribbean during 2011 but was disallowed to compete in the CMRC, due to being underweight. 

The ATL Audi was finally allowed to compete during 2012, but misfortune struck the team at this very round last year, the CMRC season opener of 2012. Doug Gore was involved in a first-corner crash during the very first race of the season. The resulting damage ended the ATL Automotive team’s season, as the car needed to be returned to ABT Sportsline in Germany for serious repairs. The ATL ABT-Audi TT-R was eventually repaired and returned to Jamaica at the beginning of 2013, and has since been unbeaten all year.

The second Audi is that of Doug Maloney, an ex-Super Touring Audi A4 STW. His car arrived in Barbados during 2007 and has been modified by the Maloney Racing Team. He has competed in the Barbadian BARL series and the CMRC since the car’s arrival in 2007. Maloney competes for Team Barbados within the CMRC.

The 2013 season opener at Dover was set to be another clash between all the big names in Jamaica: Gore (Audi) vs Summerbell (Mitsubishi) vs Rae (Mazda), all competing within Group 4 of the CMRC. The weekend got off to a good start as Doug Gore dominated the proceedings by taking pole position, whilst Maloney qualified his A4 in eighth.

Doug Gore continued his dominant form as he went on to make it three from three on the day, taking all three CMRC race victories. Admittedly Gore’s biggest opposition, David Summerbell in the Mitsubishi, unfortunately retired from race one with gearbox issues, which put him out for the rest of the day. Doug Maloney also performed very well with his Audi A4 STW, as he finished on the podium in all three races. Maloney finished third in races one and three, and he finished second behind Gore for an Audi 1-2 in race two.

It was a great day for the ATL Automotive team, who remain unbeaten in Jamaica this year.  

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Photo credit: D_MONTii Motography N More (Donavan Montague) / Jamaican Tuner

Doug Gore and ATL Audi dominate at Dover

By Johan Laubscher

The annual Carnival of Speed took place at Dover in Jamaica this weekend. The event marks the first big circuit racing event in Jamaica each year. It was also the long anticipated return of Doug Gore and the ATL Automotive ABT-Audi TT-R at the Dover circuit. 

Gore suffered a hefty crash at Dover last May, which required an intensive rebuild of the car in Germany, subsequently costing Gore and the team their entire remaining 2012 season. The team and the car are back and they were victorious at Jamwest Raceway a few weeks ago. Thus they were in high spirits as they arrived at Dover.

Some of the teams competed at Jamwest Raceway a few weeks ago, where Doug Gore dominated the proceedings, more can be read about that event HERE. However the only big guns at Jamwest were Gore and Peter Rae (Mazda). The big talking point remained this meeting at Dover when the “King”, David Summerbell, would also be in attendance. Summerbell competes with a Time-Attack based Mitsubishi Evo which has proven to be the car to beat for many seasons, a very potent machine.  

Gore and ATL arrived at Dover determined to repeat the success of Jamwest. The Audi had been entered in two sets of races: Modified Production Class 4 (two races - five and seven laps) and Thundersport 2 (one twelve lap race). He was immediately fast during practice and set pole position ahead of Summerbell.

Race day dawned on Easter Monday and the scene was set for another clash of Gore versus Summerbell. The first MP4 race got underway with Summberbell getting the jump off the rolling start and taking the outside line into turn one. Gore was able to use the inside line to maintain the lead and a battle ensued between the two. Summerbell kept Gore in sight but the Audi maintained a constant pace and crossed the line to take victory.

The second MP4 race was a copybook start of the first race. Summerbell again had the jump off the flag but Gore defended the inside line. Gore once again lead Summerbell around the Dover track until Summerbell dropped back with a loss in performance and a trail of ominous smoke. This left Doug Gore out in front for what turned into an easy victory.

Following the two MP4 races the final race of the day was the twelve lap Thundersport race. David Summerbell did not make it out on track for the day's final race which left Doug Gore alone out in front as he claimed another victory on the day. 

However, as the day came to a close in Jamaica the news emerged that Doug Gore was disqualified from the second MP4 race of the day. The disqualification was due to a technicality surrounding his use of tires.

More information:
Jamaican Tuner on Facebook

D_MONTii Motography on Facebook

ATL Automotive on Facebook

Doug Gore on Facebook

Photo credit: D_MONTii Motography N More / Jamaican Tuner