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| Saturday, 4 October 2003 |
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Premadasa clocks fastest timing at KSHC by S. M. Jiffrey Abdeen, Kandy Sports Correspondent Aravinda Premadasa continued his success in the SLARDAR McFoil Championships 2003 when he clocked the fastest timing at the Karandupona Speed Hill Climb organised by the Sri Lanka Association of racing drivers and riders in association with the Kegalle Urban Council which was worked off at Karandupona Estate, Karandupona. Aravinda Premadasa who made his maiden appearance at Karandupona timing 44.84 seconds in his Mitsubishi Evolution 6 sponsored by Caltex. His timing not only clipped off the existing record for Group M & T Cars upto 3500cc but also set up a new mark for stock which was earlier held by Nishan Weerasooriya (45.,88 seconds). Nishan Weerasooriya did not participate at this year's hill climb and he has been not seen much in the racing scene this year. But he has plans to come back with a bang later this year with a new vehicle. Aravinda Premadasa told this correspondent after the racing that this was his first appearance at Karandupona as earlier he had no intention of participating but since this was a championship event and as he had to collect the maximum number of points to keep himself in the running for the title, he had to participate. Aravinda Premadasa timed 44.4 seconds in the first run and followed it up with a slightly slower run of 46.51 in the second. The Super Fox from Diyatalawa Nalin Dharmendra Perera put up a fine performance to finish second in his Caltex Impressa with a timing of 45.64 which broke the existing record for stock cars but had to be content with the second place. Dinesh Deheragoda driving a UMLL Mitsubishi Evo 8 timed 47.99 seconds in the first run and bettered in his second run with a timing of 46.45 seconds and finished third. When the final result is analysed the difference in timing of the first three is just less than two seconds. The fastest timing for the motor bikes was returned by Shafras Junaid who clocked 46.49 seconds in his Honda CR 500 in the Group Motor Cross Event for racing bikes over 125cc and Four Strokes over 250cc. His timing was just a fraction of a second less than the fastest ever for two wheelers which is 45.80 seconds held by Shanaka Ambrose. It was some skilful riding by Shafras Junaid which brought him this fine timing. Udesh Wedisinghe of Team Caltex who was placed second had the timing of 47.02 seconds which was the second best for the day but he rode on a Honda CR 250. Dilshard Handeen of Team Caltex was once in rearing form to win the championship event for Samsung Trophy by clocking 52.73 seconds in his Caltex Laser in the event for Group A Cars over 12.0kg/hp. But his teammate Nishan Wasalathanthri was just behind by a mere second clocking 52.74 seconds and this will give some indication of the closeness of the battle. The event for Group A cars over 10.0kg/hp and upto 12.0 kg/hp saw a bigger struggle between the experienced Dhammika Peiris in a Caltex Civic and that man from Kahawatte Nihal Premasiri in a Kahawatte Civic before the former won by clocking 50.23 seconds. Nihal Premasiri through driving brilliantly failed to shift gear on time midway which resulted in the loss of time. Veteran Ananda de Alwis in a 30 year Ford Maxica which carried the oldest competitor timed 60.19 seconds to finish third. But one of the best fights was seen in the event for Group A Cars between 8.0 kg/hp and 10/0 kg/hp where the experience of Zakie Ismail (Team Caltex) dubbed as the local Shumacher was pitted against the skills of young Israq Wahab of Team McFoil, the son of the famous Cassim Wahab. |
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