|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Wednesday, 21 April 2004 |
 |
|
 |
Sports | |
| News Business Features Editorial Security Politics World Letters Sports Obituaries
|
Hafiz, Rajeewa and Damien sparkle at Nuwara Eliya races by S. M. Jiffrey Abdeen - and P. Rajaratnam Hafiz Cader (Modified cars), Rajeewa Abeywardena (motor cars) and Damien Goonetillake (two motorcycle event) sparkled at the annual Nuwara Eliya Road Race 2004 organised by the Sri Lanka Motor Cycle Club and the Nuwara Eliya Racing Club and sponsored by Nuwara Eliya Municipal Council Mayor's Fund and held before a large holiday crowd at Nuwara Eliya on Sunday. Mayor of Nuwara Eliya C. Karunaratne was the Chief Guest and he distributed the awards along with the officials of the Municipal Council and members of SLMCC and the NEMRC. It was Hafiz Cader, a son of Nuwara Eliya, now living in Colombo who stole the show with some brilliant driving which thrilled the crowds. He was in third position at the starting grid in the final star class event for the day for modified cars upto 1050 cc. Anil Jayakoddy was in pole position with Rohitha de Silva behind him. A gruelling contest was witnessed between this duo and in the second lap near Huejay corner Anil Jayakoddy spun a little and with the little space which was available Hafiz Cader shot into the front from the inner side and kept this lead till the end of the race. But Anil Jayakoddy did not give up and he kept applying the pressure from behind and ended second in almost a photo finish. Tharindu Lokuge finished way behind third. Rohith de Silva had the misfortune of pulling out from the contest as he lost the power supply mid way. Rajeewa Abeywardena driving his Ceylinco VIP sponsored Ford Laser concluded a highly successful racing season in the hills when he won Ford Laser/Mazda event comfortably increasing his lead with every lap and thereby underlying the fact that he is one of the best in the trade in this class of event both at hill climb and circuit meets. It was Dhammika Peiris who was in pole and a good start by Rajeewa Abeywardena from the first lap saw him in front and it was a very bold move by him in a track where restrictions had been placed in speeding in certain specified areas for safety reasons. His was a classic and there was no doubt about his victory. Dhammika Peiris finished second while Upulwan Serasinghe third. Shantha Suraweera did an explosive run in the event for motor cars. In the event for motor cars Nissan March 1000 cc. From third position in the grid, he stunned Dhammika Peiris to brush past to the front in a dare devil fashion and built up a substantial lead. Dhammika Peiris' Nissan March suffered a little damage in this brush off but worse damage for him followed when Tharindu Lokuge was involved in a collision when his vehicle spun in the track twice which compelled him to pull out. Rohith de Silva won the event for Standard Minis with a classic run after enjoying the pole position in the standard Minis upto 1000 cc. He went into lead from the start and held it upto the finish underlying the fact that he is one of the best exponents of Minis in the country. Damien Goonetillake was seen in action at Nuwara Eliya after two years and he won two events and could have clinched a third in the open event, but he knocked over the sand bags and damaged his sump and he had to pull out of the race which was eventually won by Prabath Peiris. Others to excel were Prabath Peiris, Krishan Dias, Shane Gunawardena, Roshan Fernando, Randy Anthony, Sujith Karuansekera, Maduranga Caldera, on a day filled with thrills and spills. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
Produced by Lake House |
