Jamaican race drivers Tommi Gore and Senna Summerbell delivered an outstanding performance on Sunday, earning a podium finish in the ADAC GT4 Racing Series in Germany. Competing as the "Reggae Racers," the duo secured third place in the first race and finished in the top five in the final race, marking Jamaica’s first-ever trophies in the prestigious European racing series.

Gore and Summerbell, who drive the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport #32 with its distinctive Jamaican design, made history not only by reaching the podium but also by becoming the first Jamaican team to participate in the renowned ADAC GT4 Series. The competition, which runs across six legendary race courses in Germany and Austria, featured some of the best drivers in Europe, making the achievement even more remarkable.

For Gore and Summerbell, both sons of prominent Jamaican race drivers, the result marks a significant step in their careers. The 22-year-old Summerbell and 19-year-old Gore have quickly established themselves as rising stars on the international racing scene.

Reflecting on their success, Gore credited their mid-season switch to W&S Motorsport as a pivotal moment. "We ended up switching teams mid-season to W&S Motorsport, driving their Porsche GT4 RS. This was a great move and allowed us to showcase our talent," he said. "Since the move, we’ve finished in the top 10 in four out of the last six races, including three top-five finishes and a podium in the penultimate race."

Gore added, "Another great result to end off the year, along with the podium yesterday! Actually putting us 14th overall in the championship with only scoring points for the last three events in the Porsche!"

The team’s strong performance in Germany against experienced professional drivers, some with over three years in the championship, impressed their new team and demonstrated the potential of Jamaican motorsport talent. "Immediately having the pace in a new car and being able to fight on track with much more experienced and accomplished drivers was a testament to our local roots and the level of Jamaican motorsport," Gore explained.

Gore and Summerbell’s efforts saw them currently 14th overall in the championship, a commendable achievement for their first season in the series. Their success has garnered attention both in Jamaica and Europe, and the duo is eager to continue representing their country on the international stage.

The Reggae Racers expressed their gratitude for the support from their sponsors, including S Hotel, Q8 Oils, Sandals Resorts, Visit Jamaica (JTB), Sherwin Williams, Barita Investments, the Jamaica Sim Racing Association (JSRA), Mobay Freight Services, and Bell Safety.

With a promising future ahead, Gore and Summerbell are poised to continue building on their achievements and representing Jamaica with pride in the world of motorsport.

Jamaica’s team of Tommi Gore and Senna Summerbell produced a creditable showing in the fifth race of the ADAC GT4 Germany series as they secured two top-15 finishes at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, Styria, at the weekend.

The Jamaican duo, dubbed the Reggae Racers, displayed their prowess as they drove their Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Club Sport to a 14th place finish after qualifying in ninth position in race one.

They were up with the pace from a strong start but later faded down the track in a fiercely competitive field.

However, the Avia W&S Motorsport representatives improved significantly in the second race, where they went nine places better to place fifth after placing fourth in qualifying.

The team of Jan Marschalkowski and Philipp Gogollok from Eastside Motorsport, finished tops to register their first win of the series.  They won ahead of Finn Zulauf and Josef Knopp, also representing Avia W&S Motorsport.

With much positive to take from their performances, Gore and Summerbell will target even more improvements in the final race of the season scheduled for October 18-20 in Hockenheim, Germany.

“I am so happy to be a part of this team and ready to end the year strong. We had a big jump in results from the start of the season with this change, so we can only expect things to get better from here,” Gore said.

The Avia W&S Motorsports team, which currently occupies second position in the team ranking on 179 points, are the defending champions in the ADAC GT4 Series. They are 11 points behind leaders Hofor Racing.

Jamaican Formula One enthusiasts turned out in force on Sunday at the AC Hotel Conference Room to witness the Miami Grand Prix, with the venue packed to capacity as patrons enjoyed a thrilling race-day experience as Lando Norris took his maiden F1 victory at the Miami International Autodrome, racing from fifth on the grid to finish seven seconds clear of three-time world champion Max Verstappen

The event, organized by Heineken Jamaica, drew a full house of fans who relished drinks and a lavish all-you-can-eat buffet, complemented by exotic Heineken-infused concoctions like "Heineken brewed passion" and "Heineken Brujitos." Prior to the race, attendees engaged in virtual racing on consoles, adding to the excitement and anticipation.

One of the standout attractions was a Ferrari displayed at the venue, owned by Member of Parliament Hugh Graham, which drew admiring looks and photo opportunities from attendees.

 Rising young racer Tommi Gore, son of Jamaica's racing icon Doug Gore, was also present, adding a touch of local motorsport flair to the event.

Patrons enjoying the Miami Grand Prix at the AC Hotel Conference Room in Kingston on Sunday.

 Amoye Phillpotts-Brown, Brand Manager for Heineken Jamaica, highlighted the motivation behind the activation, emphasizing the aim to bring the electrifying Miami Grand Prix experience directly to Jamaican fans.

 "Heineken is a global partner for F1, and this year, we decided to bring the Miami Grand Prix to Jamaicans," explained Phillpotts-Brown. "We wanted to create a high-end, premium event similar to what you'd experience at the race itself. Miami Grand Prix is known for its energy, and we wanted to capture that for our fans here."

 Phillpotts-Brown also emphasized the importance of responsible consumption and showcased Heineken's innovative product, Heineken 0.0, catering to those looking for a non-alcoholic option.

 Reflecting on the event's success, Phillpotts-Brown noted the overwhelming response from fans: "It's a really good crowd, and we actually had to close out our list due to the high level of interest. Within hours of sending out invitations, we had over 150 sign-ups, highlighting the enthusiasm for Formula One in Jamaica."

Amoye Phillpotts-Brown (left) with Tommi Gore and Hanna Turner Junior Brand Manager at Heineken.

 Looking ahead, Phillpotts-Brown expressed intentions to continue fostering interest in Formula One through similar events, with plans to potentially activate around the upcoming Canadian Grand Prix in June.

 The Miami Grand Prix viewing event exemplified the growing passion and excitement for Formula One racing among Jamaican fans, fueled by immersive experiences crafted by Heineken Jamaica.

Jamaicans Tommi Gore and Senna Summerbell have partnered to drive an all-Jamaican entry in the 2024 ADAC GT4 Germany race series. They will be driving an Audi R8 GT4 prepared by the SAPE Motorsport race team.

The ADAC GT4 Germany is a grand tourer-based auto racing series that is largely held in Germany as part of the ADAC GT Masters, using GT4 vehicles. The 2024 series, intended as a springboard for young talents, has more than 30 vehicles from 16 teams from 5 countries registered and will feature six rounds of racing at legendary tracks throughout Germany and Austria.

Each round begins with two qualifying sessions and features two one-hour races per race weekend. A driver change must be made between the 25th and 35th minute of each race, which means that Gore and Summerbell will share driving duties for every race.

Speaking at a recent media event hosted by team sponsor Sherwin Williams, Tommi said he is “really grateful for the opportunity.”

 For Summerbell, it was good to have the sponsors on board.

“Happy to have Sherwin Williams on board, hopefully we do well for them and well for ourselves. I’m proud to be part of this racing team with Tommi, we’ve been racing all of our lives together in go-karts and cars, and to drive with him and become teammates is a great feeling and hopefully we do it together in Germany and represent Jamaica," Summerbell said.

The duo’s first race is April 26-28, at the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben in Oschersleben, Germany.