Two Lankan drivers leave for Gymkhana Meet

Bernard PERERA

MOTOR RACING: Two Leading drivers Nalin D. Perera and Sheran Fernando from Sri Lanka left the island on Wednesday for Indonesia to compete in the Asian Gymkhana Race Meet which is scheduled to be run on Saturday and Sunday.

They were accompanied by Richard de Zoysa as manager who is also the head of the Governing Body for Motor Sports, Sri Lanka Automobile Sports (SLAS). Drivers from twelve countries are billeed drive for honours at this two day meet.

The two drivers Nalin and Sheran are the first Lankans to compete in this type Gymkahana Meet where over ten countries are billed to participate on these two days of racing. Nalin and Sheran have performed well in Sri Lankan tracks before venturing in to this sort of avtivity abroad.

They have won many events on different categories here. Nalin is a driver who has been driving in Super car events, while Sheran has done creditably well with stock car events run on various tracks in Sri Lanka.

Both these drivers have been in the motor racing field for nearly a decade. Their experience would definitely do good for them in this race meet and is sure to bring back glory to their motherland.

Their participation will pave the way to develop the sport among young aspirants who are keen to take to the sport in the near future.

According to the de Zoysa the Ministry of Sports has given its blessings to the two drivers to go ahead with the tour. This is an encouragement to our motor racing fraternity said de Zoysa just before their departure.

He also said that Go karting is the stepping stone for young ones to enter the racing field for which a permanent track is a must.

The SLAS request to the Ministry of Sports for a block of land to construct a permanent Go Karting track has been fruitful and the Minister has given the green light to acquire a seven acre land at Maharagama for the purpose, said de Zoysa.