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Mcfoil are sponsoring the Motor Racing Association's and Sri Lanka Racing Riders Association's Races for the year 2003, and the Sri Lanka Army Sports Committee have also chipped in with a generous hand in running the meet at the Sports Complex at Pannala which consists of one of the best racing circuits in the country.

January 25th(Saturday) and 26th(Sunday) will see the races taking a new turn in that a significant feature of the race this year is a new format will be followed.

The new format will be that the race will be run not on a weight basis of the cars and bikes but the power to weight basis.

Some of the prominent drivers will be Dilantha Malagamuwa and Rohan de Silva.

Champion racing driver Malagamuwa is all set to emulate his feats in Australia when he takes to the racing circuit. Upali Dissanayake, convening the meeting said that he was thankful to McFoil one of the premier Roof heat Insulation companies in Sri Lanka who are "insulating" the Race Circuit from the heat of racing.

"This is a ground breaking event" said Richard de Zoysa, the former racing driver, now involved in administration. "This is the first time that a race will be run on a cubic capacity classification." clarified de Zoysa answering questions from the media.

The race will be held in five categories, namely Groups A, F, N, P and R.

Group A is for modified cars up to 1050 cc, over 1050 cc and up to Group N, is for unmodified, normally aspirated engines, up to 1100 cc carburettor engine, up to 1100cc electronic fuel injected engines, up to 1400 carburettor engine, Up to 1500cc carburettor engine, up to 1400cc electronic fuel injected engines, up to 1500 cc carburettors.

Group F is for formula cars in two categories of Formula Ford 1600cc standard(post 85) and Formula Ford 1600 cc standard(pre 85).

Group "P" is for standard modified bikes up to 125 cc for Novices, and up to 125cc, and up to 250 cc. 4 Stroke engines up to 250 cc, up to 600cc and an open event.

Group "R" is for racing motorcycles up to 125 cc and up to 250cc. The Ladies event is for up to 60cc automatic and up to 150 cc with gears.

The organisers have made arrangements for 1000 grand stand seats and the stadium could accommodate around 50,000 spectators.

The organisers were very grateful to the contribution made by the Sri Lanka Army sports Committee for the valuable contribution made in the past to the Sport of Motor Racing.

Earlier races at Foxhill and Katukurunda etc were well attended but this will be better as the organisers are better equipped to deal with the situation and any problems that crop up such as crowd control etc.

Insurance too will be provided for the competitors. Mahen Thambiah of the racing drivers union said that he was wearing two hats in the sense that he is a member of the racing union plus representing the sponsors Mcfoil.

Tickets will be priced at Rs 50 and the special enclosure will be Rs 300. About 200 entries are expected. (P.J)

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