SLARDAR Championships 2005:

Top class Motor Racing feast at Katukurunda
 

BY BERNARD Perera

THE final stage of the SLARDAR Motor Racing Championship is scheduled to be conducted tomorrow at the Katukurunda Race Circuit commencing 9 a.m.

Rodney Mason said that already 97 drivers and 42 riders have confirmed their participation inclusive of all leading drivers and riders. According to him over twenty events are scheduled to be run on this day.

Last year's champion driver in the Ford Laser/Mazda 323 up to 1500 cc event Nishan Wasalathantri is on his way to grub the title this year too.

It has to be seen whether Upulwhen Serasinghe who was the runner-up to Nishan in a closely contested battle last year, will have to came up with a very good performance to take the title. He is the closest rival to Nishan.

In the SL-A Cars over 2000 cc it will be a battle between Aravinda Premadasa, the title holder and Riyaz Farouk. Here too the latter will have hard time in fighting Aravinda Premadasa. If Riyaz is to go away with the title he has to win both stages of the event to be worked off on Sunday.

In the Motorcycle category Maduranga Caldera is in the lead for the SLARDAR championship for 250 cc over and up to 400 cc racing category open event. He will have to come out with all in store to remain on top as Nilantha Ranatunga will go flat out to beat him in this class.

Another to be watched on Sunday will be Damian Gunatilleke who is also working his why to grab the 2005 title. Dinesh Deheragoda who has already collected 30 points so far looks set to maintain his top position in the SLN Cars event for 3500 cc.

He will be behind the wheel of his Mitusubishi Evo VIII. M. Jyeanthan who drive the BMW with 22 points under his belt will once again try override the much powerful Mitusubishi driven by Dinesh. So a keen tussle could be witnessed in this event too.

Event for mini cars too, will provide the spectators a fine racing with K. Parameshawaran battling along other driver in this class.

The large crowds that gathers at the Katukurunda circuit on this is sure to witness a top class racing fare organised by the Sri Lanka Association for Racing Drivers and Riders. (SLARDAR).