Court gives green light for driver in racing event on Sunday

LOCAL motorsport racer Kasey Ramoutar will be allowed to participate in Sunday’s TT Automobile Sports Association (TTASA) championship event at the Wallerfield International Raceway after he was granted a late-night injunction on Friday.

Ramoutar, a racer and motorsport photographer, took TTASA to court for his suspension by the local motorsport body on June 6, claiming he was not given an opportunity to be heard.

He complained the suspension will prohibit him from participating in all TTASA events.

Ramoutar was part of TTASA's management committee from 2018 to March 2022 but was accused by the association’s president of recording committee minutes at a meeting on May 12.

He challenged the president and then filed a complaint with the association. Ramoutar received a warning letter and was then suspended. The warning letter allegedly admonished Ramoutar but said it did not include suspension from participating in events.

On June 6, he received a suspension letter from TTASA's president Fyzool Madan, accusing him of “degrees of misconduct,” also debarring him from all TTASA's competitions and activities, including those of affiliates.

His application said the effect of this suspension will prevent him from participating in events, including Sunday’s Championship Event No 3 at the Wallerfield International Raceway and any held by the TT Karting Association.

Just before midnight on Friday, Justice Frank Seepersad granted the interim injunction which reinstated Ramoutar’s full rights in the TTASA until a further hearing of the application to continue the order and one which will allow him to race on Sunday at the championship event.

The judge has also ordered that Ramoutar’s results and use of scores beyond Sunday’s event will be contingent on the determination of the issue of the validity of his membership in the association.

Any prize money or trophy he may win at Sunday’s event will be held by TTASA until his membership status is sorted out.

Madan, TTASA's vice president Roger Hutcheon, competition chairman Devendra Nath, and member representatives Ronnie Ramdeo and Ryan Peyaru were named as the intended defendants for TTASA.

Ramoutar said his career as a racer has allowed him to pursue his passion and net key sponsors.

“My position is that I was wrongfully and unlawfully suspended from the association.

“Final determinations were made against me, against the spirit of TTASA’s constitution, and in any event absent natural justice and due process.

“I vehemently oppose and challenge what purports to be final determinations against me and which have resulted in a wrongful and unlawful suspension.”

He said the restriction from participating in Sunday’s championship would have deprived him of an opportunity to contend for the upcoming international championship events.

“Participating in such a championship is a passion of mine and I have exhausted all efforts and resources geared to ensure my success in this championship, which would further build my brand, add to my credit as an established racer and I say that such a deprivation would lead to serious loss being suffered by me and for which later damages cannot be a remedy.”

He also said his relationship with his paid sponsors was also likely to be jeopardised if he could not race on Sunday.

Ramoutar is represented by attorneys Kiel Taklalsingh, Vivek Lakhan-Joseph, and Johathan Stevenson.