Scott Barnes is bullish about hosting another successful Keen Ltd Dockyard Grand Prix Street Race this weekend.

The defending Shifter class champion is, however, less confident about his own chances of victory.

Competing against the likes of Brandon Frank, Stephen Corrado and David Selley, Barnes knows he’s in for a wheel-to-wheel battle.

First, though, some frenetic, last-minute mechanical work is on the cards.

“I haven’t started my Shifter since last year’s Hamilton Grand Prix,” he said, “and my TAG motor hasn’t worked properly for the past three race days. Right now I’m stressing.

“I’ve just got some parts in and will work on them tonight and Friday. I’m not very confident right now engine-wise. Driving-wise it’s like riding a bike, I’m not worried about that.”

He added: “I’ll be working hard just trying to get it back together and get it running again.

“For a bigger race like this all the drivers know that you are going to have a big spectator crowd and they want to be at their best.

“So I’m sure a lot of the drivers will be putting in more time to make sure their karts are better prepared for race day.”

As well as the Shifter class, there will a feast of qualifying, heats and main event races in the TAG class, three junior classes and bike races during two packed days of racing around the Clocktower Mall street track. In total, almost 40 drivers and riders will be action.

As well as Barnes in the Shifters, David Barbosa is one to watch as he defends his TAG title, with Jason North and Barnes, again, other leading contenders in that class.

“The great thing about putting on these events as president and as a racer, too, is the spectators that come out,” he said. “I love seeing thousands of people watching our events so it’s pretty cool to see that.”

The weather forecast is good and Premier Michael Dunkley is scheduled to attend for the main event races and prizegiving ceremony on Sunday.

Food vendors will be positioned around the track and there will be fun castles for the children.

Apart from Keen Ltd and Wedco, sponsors include Bermuda Island Shipping Ltd, Pepsi, Rubis, Bonefish Bar & Grill and Joe Vieira Trucking Ltd.