Photos: R3.Visuals, -LiNkS- productions, DoughBoyTV, jb.photography_gnd
The Caribbean’s drag racing calendar reached a boiling point in late September as Grenada hosted a pivotal round of the FIA-sponsored Caribbean Drag Racing Championship (CDRC). The Grenada International Drags 2025, hosted by the Grenada Motor Club, brought together top-tier machines and drivers from Antigua, Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Trinidad, USA—and for the first time, Dominica.
This wasn’t a debut to international racing. It was a continuation of momentum.
Earlier in the season, Team Manicou Racing—featuring Oswald Williams and Moses Archibald—made waves in St. Vincent, while Alvin Lewis took home a dyno trophy for Most Horsepower during his February outing in St. Lucia. But Grenada was different. It was a championship round, a chance to race under FIA sanction, and a return to international competition not seen since the early 2000s.
Dominica’s lineup was lean but potent. Four drivers, each with a distinct build and backstory, came to represent the island’s growing motorsport culture. Among them, Alvin Lewis, whose racing pedigree runs deep—his older brother Daryl Lewis once campaigned a HKS-powered Toyota Levin at Invasion of the Imports in Antigua.
Dominica’s Lineup: Four Cars, Four Stories
Dominica’s roster in Grenada was compact but diverse. Each car represented a different approach to power delivery, tuning philosophy, and driving style.
- Oswald Williams – Team Manicou Racing – Honda Civic B16 (FWD)
A high-revving, turbocharged front-wheel drive setup that stunned the dyno with over 800 WHP. - Moses Archibald – Team Manicou Racing – Toyota Celica GT4 (AWD)
A rally-bred platform reimagined for the strip, pushing past 600 WHP—now the highest recorded for a Dominican AWD car. - Alvin Lewis – Team ALM Racing – Subaru Impreza WRX (AWD)
A family legacy on four wheels, tuned for bracket consistency and capable of 11-second passes. - Kris McIntyre – McIntyre Racing – Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution V (AWD)
A proven platform with a new personal best of 11.2 seconds—the quickest ET ever recorded by a Dominican car.
Dyno Day: Numbers That Turned Heads
Friday’s dyno session was the first real test—and Dominica didn’t disappoint. Oswald’s Civic lit up the rollers with 800+ WHP, a figure that now stands as the Dominica’s National Horsepower Record. Moses followed with 600+ WHP in the Celica GT4, setting a new benchmark for AWD builds from the island. Kris’s Evo V put down 490+ WHP, while Alvin’s WRX, though not dynoed in Grenada, had already proven its strength in St. Lucia earlier this year.
But the dyno wasn’t just about numbers—it was about validation. These cars had made it across the sea, through customs, and onto the rollers. That alone was a win.
Qualifying: Two In, Two Out
Mechanical issues kept the Civic and Celica from making their qualifying runs. It was a tough blow for Team Manicou, especially after their dyno performance. But Kris and Alvin made it through:
- Kris entered the 13-second class
- Alvin entered the 11-second class
With limited seat time and no test and tune, both drivers had to rely on instinct and setup memory.
Sunday: Personal Bests and Bracket Battles
Sunday’s bracket racing brought redemption. Kris ran a blistering 11.2-second pass, setting a new national ET record. Alvin followed with a clean 11.57-second run, his personal best. Both drivers advanced to the semi-finals, but their runs ended there—Kris red-lit, and Alvin was edged out in a tight matchup.
Grudge Night: One Last Shot
The grudge matches were meant to be the final showdown. No brackets, no clocks—just pride. But both Kris and Alvin suffered mechanical failures that ended their night early. Still, the message was clear: Dominica came to race.
Representing the Island
Beyond the numbers and results, Dominica’s presence in Grenada was felt. The paddock was alive with shared tools, borrowed parts, and mutual respect. Drivers from across the region took notice—not just of the cars, but of the effort it took to get them there.
This was Dominica’s third overseas outing in 2025. And it was the most ambitious yet.
