The Dockyard Grand Prix returns on April 29-30 — and the Bermuda Karting Club have upped the ante.

Drivers will tear around the Clocktower track for the third time in four years but this event will also have a definite international feel.

Around 5,000 spectators watched the karters hit speeds of up to 65mph last time in the West End and this year’s races takes place on the eve of the America’s Cup.

The Dockyard starting grid will also feature two overseas drivers for the first time. Rob Howden, who runs www.ekartingnews.com, the biggest karting website, will race, as will Austin Riley, the 18-year-old speedster who is autistic and travels the world racing and raising awareness of the condition.

The weekend’s title sponsor is Base (Bermuda Autism Support & Education) and Riley, who also visited the island last year, will hold presentations at a number of schools on the island.

“We’re excited to partner with Base,” said Scott “Skitchy” Barnes, the BKC president.

“We want to show everyone what autism is all about and what Austin is all about. We’re showcasing the karting club, Base and kids with autism. It’s the first time we have partnered with a charity and the first time the karting club has done anything like that. We’re really excited.

“It’s also the first time at a street race that we’ve got international drivers coming to race with us. Each time the Dockyard Grand Prix gets bigger and better.”

In 2015, Brandon Frank won the 125cc Shifter title to add to his win in the Hamilton Grand Prix the previous year. He will not, however, be taking part in this year’s race.

The competition promises to be fierce once again at the club’s fourth street race event in four years. “We have 32 confirmed karters,” Barnes said. “We are looking to bring in the mini bikes again and we have two international drivers, which is awesome for us.

“We’ll have food vendors, fun castles for the family; Dockyard itself is an adventure so there is plenty to do. It’s three weeks before the America’s Cup so there’ll be some mega yachts here and people will be visiting — the crowd should be even better than last time.

“We are also going to have the rental karts involved for the first time in a street race. The weekend is going to be a lot of fun.”

Racing with autism, page 35