Rikaaz draws inspiration from India's Karthikeyan

Richard DWIGHT

MOTOR RACING: It is widely acknowledged, that if one is to make headway in any sport, one has to exercise unflagging zeal, much perseverance resolute discipline, in the cause of the sport to which one stands committed.

On this score, it is heartening to find in Rikaaz Khalid a youngster, nurturing a fondness for things that has to do with motors.

So much so, that at the tender age of nine he was able to either ride a motorcycle or drive a car and, more importantly to be acquainted with the technical and mechanical aspects of motors vehicles, which indeed is remarkable for a boy of his age.

With there being many an attraction and distraction these days, to lure the young from their chosen healthy pursuits - it does redound to the credit of Rikaaz, that his interest for the sport, motor racing hasn't waned, but kept on growing, which is how it should be, in order to make meaningful progress.

Evidence of Rikaaz's positive talent in motor racing was seen - when he, between the age of 12 and 14 years and, within a period ranging from the year 2001 to 2004, performed with much competence to win many a race in the Go and Pro-Kart races, registering as well timings that were extraordinary, to earn for himself the sobriquet prodigious junior.

Riding the crest of a wave, complacency could have taken hold of Rikaaz to just rest on his laurels. But instead, he was well focused and his mind was set on becoming the youngest formula racing driver in Sri Lanka, nay perhaps in the world.

There is therefore within him a burning passion for motor racing, which cannot be easily put off, an obsession where he thinks, talks and lives motor racing.

This was well observed at the Racing Drivers Development Program held in Coimbatore in February 2005, under the guidance of the knowledgeable Indian, Akbar Ebrahim - where Rikaaz, one amongst 30 racing drivers inclusive of Go-Kart drivers, did make quite an impact, holding out the prospect of being a future formula racing driver all this, and his approach an attitude towards motor racing stood Rikaaz in good stead, to make the right kind of impression to officially be accepted as a Sri Lankan Formula racing driver in April last year at the age of 15.

Needless to say, this was a high point in his racing career, wherein he was overwhelmed by a sense of achievement that pleased him very much.

However his baptism into the Sri Lankan Formula racing drivers' fraternity, was anything but spectacular - for in making his debut at the AMRC's speed 2005 at Pannala in June, he suffered a mishap or two to be sidelined, which is a good way to begin, in order to have a sense of balance.

Despite this setback, he gave a fair account of himself in the 2005 August Go-Kart races at Coimbatore, where he was on the podium twice and coming third in one or two preliminaries.

He was also in the Sri Lankan team that took part in the Indo-Lanka Formula racing meet held in February this year.

Mention must be made here that Rikaaz was adjudged the fastest Novice in the Go-Kart championship held at Coimbatore in August 2005 and also holds the fastest Go-Kart lap timing record in Sri Lanka.

In season or out, win or lose, Rikaaz is keen to see that his enthusiasm for Motor racing is always well sustained, with the sole aim of his becoming an International Formula Racing Driver someday.

It is with this foremost in his mind, along with the financial support of the Presidents of SLAS and AMRC-Richard de Zoysa and Rohan de Silva respectively, and the part sponsorship of Jinasena Group, that Rikaaz responded to an invitation to follow a Formula LGB Advance Training program which was held in the last week of March 06 at Coimbatore, India under the direction of Akbar Ebrahim.

The training programme under the expertise of Akbar Ebrahim and his team was very comprehensive to be elaborate.

Every aspect to the minute detail concerning motor racing was dealt with by motor racing experts with much finesse.

Trainees further enhanced their knowledge and skill through practical and theoretical instructions given on a wide array of 30 issues that confront drivers not to mention physical fitness, mind control and racing aptitudes.

But by for the most rewarding and satisfying experience of Rikaaz at the development program was the advice, inspiration and encouragement he received from the first Indian to drive in F1 world championship, Narain Karthikeyan, whom he wishes to emulate racing in the global arena.

Narain has been racing in many a world series and what he had to impart to Rikaaz would indeed prove beneficial.

The mild mannered, sober disciplined Rikaaz, not given to affluence and lacking the wherewithal could do well with a sponsor or two to achieve his ambition of being a Sri Lankan Formula F1 Driver.