Scott Barnes, the Bermuda Karting Club president, has promised “bumper-to-bumper action” when the Hamilton Grand Prix rolls into town for the first time in 12 years this weekend.

Barnes, who won three classes when the Grand Prix was last held in 2002, is confident that the high-octane affair will once again become an annual spectacle in Bermuda’s sporting calendar.

And after the success of the inaugural Dockyard Grand Prix last November, Barnes is hoping that the “family friendly” two-day event will attract even more than the 7,000 spectators that lined the city’s streets during its heyday.

“It’s been a long time [since the last race] but the club is ready in terms of our finances and the drivers are determined to put on a good show,” said Barnes, who revealed that the BKC had raised about $30,000 in sponsorship for the event.

“We’re definitely pushing for it to be a family day. There will be food vendors around the track and a kids’ area at Albuoy’s Point with fun castles and snow cones.

“Most importantly, though, there’s going to be plenty of high speed and bumper-to-bumper racing action.”

The BKC have 46 karts already signed up — 16 in the 125cc Shifter Class, 12 in the Senior TAG and a total of 17 across the junior and rental categories. As for the Shifter Class, which is the quickest, Barnes believes that Brandon Franks, 18-year-old Stephen Corrado and Shannon Caisey will be among the favourites for the chequered flag.

“Brandon Franks has been fast all year, he’ll be up near the front, while Stephen Corrado has been quick all year as has Shannon Caisey,” said Barnes, who will also be racing, having won the Shifter and TAG class for the second successive year this season.

The majority of the track, which winds around Albuoy’s Point, up Bermudiana Road, across the one-way street and back down Front Street to the Flagpole, has been repaved by the Corporation of Hamilton.

Barnes said that next year’s course could include Court Street because he believes that wider roads will promote better racing and even greater excitement.

“As long as the Corporation of Hamilton, who have been very supportive, work with us, we definitely want to hold the Grand Prix annually,” said Barnes, who is one of several of the BKC drivers to have raced in the 2002 Grand Prix.

“Maybe we will have a different course next year because Front Street is a little tighter than it was when we used to do it. If this weekend goes well, I think we will push for Court Street, which is a bit wider and therefore the racing should be better.”

The Grand Prix starts tomorrow with each of the five classes having two races each day, with practice and qualifying.