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| Wednesday, 10 November 2004 |
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SLARDAR Championship Racing 2004 : Dhammika and Damien stars at Katukurunda by Bernard Perera Dhammika Pieris drove his Honda Civic elegantly to win three titles at the SLARDAR championship which concluded at Katukurunda last Sunday. The meet was the final stage to decide the SLARDAR championship winner, organised by the Sri Lanka Association for Racing Drivers and Riders. Dhammika driving in the Group N Cars 10-12 kg category was declared the winner when the judges found Nihal Premasiri guilty of knocking Dhammika's car. Later competing in the Group N cars Ford Laser/Mazda event Dhammika did well to win this event from last year's champion and runner-up Nishan Wasalathanthri and Upulwan Serasinghe respectively. Dhammika who got ahead never gave room to his followers to take the lead. He led this race from start to finish. Upul who was lying third until the last lap got past Nishan at the final stage. Dhammika made it three in a row when he drove his Honda Civic again to victory in the 8-10 kg category event. Sampath Karunaratne and Nihal Premasiri were placed as runners-up in this event. The Super Cars event was hotly contested by the defending champion Aravinda Premadasa and Dinesh Deheragoda, both driving Mitsubishi Evos. The first event in this category saw Premadasa dominate from the word go. He held on to his lead until he received the chequered flag. He was followed by Deheragoda and Nalin D. Perera who drove a Subaru STV VII. The second race in this class was once again the same battle. Here to it was Premadasa who was in front upto the second lap. Premadasa had to face the unexpected here as his engine came up with problems making him to abandon the race at the early stage. Deheragoda who was behind had no problems in winning this event from Feroz Omar (Subaru STI VII) and P. Jeyanthan behind the wheel of a BMW. This also happens to be the first occasion that the spectators saw a BMW competing in this class. Mustaq Ahamed who raced after a lapse of one year proved that he has not lost his touch. Competing in Group A Cars event, he drove magnificently a Honda Civic to glory. He had tough competition coming from Ushada Abeysundera and Prasanna Pieris who were placed second and third respectively. Ahamed had a bad start caught up with the lost time going half way into the first lap and got ahead of other drivers. He held onto this advantage for the remainder of the race while increasing his lead. K. Parameshwaram won the day's first event for Mini Saloon Cars. Meanwhile, inexperienced U. C. Perera behind the wheel of a Ford Laser pulled away from Nishan Wasalathanthri and Upulwan Serasinghe the experienced drivers to win the Group N cars upto 12 kg class. Anil Jayakody was another winner who is without much experience on the track. Upulwan Serasinghe won the race one for Group N Cars for Ford Laser / Mazda event. He was closely followed by defending champion for this class Wasalathanthri. Experienced driver Yoga Perera proved that he is a master driver in Group A Class over 1050-1400 C Class. He controlled his Mini Cultus excellently to grab honours in this event. Krishan Dias and Damien Goonethilleke were the stars on motor cycles. Krishan rode his Yamaha TZ 125 in great style to grab the open event. It was an excellent race competed by Prabath Pieris and T. Visal Fernando. Meanwhile, Damien Goonetilleke too thrilled the large crowds with his dare-devil riding skills. Damien first won the Std/Mod event 250 cc from Maduranga Caldera who was always trailing behind and giving him a torrid time. Shane Gunewardene who was riding the most power packed machine Honda XR 650 cc was the winner of the open event for motorcycles in Group SM. All in all it was a day filled with thrills and spills for the spectators who made their way to the Katukurunda track. |
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