The stage is set for the first-ever Fast Parts Caribbean GT Challenge, which will roar to life at Barbados’ iconic Bushy Park circuit across August 29 and 30, as two class points leaders prepare to defend their top positions against a stacked international field of GT racing competitors.
Coming into the weekend’s fourth round of the wider GT Challenge de las Américas series, Costa Rican driver Gustavo Ortega carries both the overall GT Challenge points lead and the top spot in the GTS class, driving for AP Racing in a high-performance Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo2. Ortega’s 2024 season has been nothing short of dominant, with wins across the first three rounds of the championship hosted in Panama, a remarkable comeback that stunned fans and competitors alike.
Weeks before the 2024 season kicked off, Ortega survived a serious motorcycle accident that left him with seven fractured ribs and a broken collarbone. Many doubted he would be able to compete at full strength this year, but the seasoned racer defied all expectations to climb back into the cockpit and claim back-to-back strong results. His recent winning streak extends beyond the Caribbean and Central American series, with top finishes in FARA and Trans Am racing events across North America, and he already holds two national GT3 championship titles in his home country of Costa Rica.
Earlier this month, the series held its third round at Guyana’s South Dakota Circuit, where Ortega delivered consistent performances: he crossed the line fourth in the opening race and third in his class in the second event. These solid results allowed him to hold onto his lead in both the GTS class standings and the overall series rankings heading into the Barbados round.
When he’s not focused on taking the checkered flag at Bushy Park, Ortega says he is planning to extend his stay to enjoy all that Barbados has to offer, alongside his family, who travels with him to every event. “Even though my family comes with me to all races, this one we’re staying a few extra days, not just for practice and the race weekend,” Ortega explained. “I’ve visited Barbados before but only for a short trip. The country is so beautiful that this time we’re going to take the chance to explore a little and make the most of our time here.”
In the GTS Lights class, a division built for one-make “Cup” race cars including the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup and Lamborghini Super Trofeo, Puerto Rican driver Ricardo Vera enters the weekend as the standing points leader. Piloting his Team Speedway Lamborghini ST, Vera faced a challenging outing at the Guyana round earlier in August: he claimed seventh place in the opening race but was forced to withdraw before the start of the second event. Despite the disappointing weekend, Vera held onto his top position in the GTS Lights standings, though his lead has narrowed to just nine points going into the Bushy Park round, setting up a tense battle for the class lead this weekend.