Pasindu steals the limelight at Katukurunda

Bernard PERERA in Katukurunda

MOTOR RACING: Young Pasindu Pieris stole the limelight at the first stage of the SLARDAR Championship 2007 which concluded at Katukurunda Airship yesterday.

Pasindu first drove his Honda EG - 3 to win the Group SLN Cars 8-10 kg. He had to face stiff opposition from experience Derin Weerasinghe and Jagath Munasinghe. The two runners up were always trailing Pasindu as he was in front from the word go.

Pasindu came up with another top class performance in the Championship event SL-H Cars upto 1600.

He won this event competing against top drivers of the calibre of Sajaad Zuhair, Major Harsha Wijetunge and the oldest competitor who has experience in this category Suwanapala Mannapperuma. This was the race that attracted the highest number of competitors.

Experienced Zuhair and Mannapperuma were always trailing Pasindu. Zuhair went on to the lead in the third lap when cornering the goose neck.

Pasindu who hung onto him in the straight went ahead when coming onto the right hand corner, from there onwards it was Pasindu all the way to the finish line.

Mannapperuma and Zuhair should get all credit for their bravery in competing with the youngsters even in their matured age.

The Group SL-H Cars 1600 CC's second race was a complete dominance by Pasindu Pieris. He went off to a flying start leaving behind Harsha Wijetunga and Mannapperuma.

It was a close fight till the completion of the second lap and the race leader Pasindu gave no room for his followers to go past him while extending his lead.

This victory brought his third win for the day, while Mannapperuma and Wjetunge finished as runners up.

The other driver to excel yesterday was W.A.G Rangana. He was pitted against a set of experienced drivers Dhammika Pieris, Chaminda Weerasooriya, Dilshard Hamdoon and Upulusena Serasinghe. Rangana drove his Ford Laser 1500 CC with full of confidence to gain victory.

Rangana could not go past U.C. Perera in the next event for SL-N Cars Ford Mazda 1300 CC. It was U.C. Perera all the way. Rangana finished second followed by Chaminda Weerasooriya.

Rangana once again coming up for a second time in the Ford Lazer / Mazda 1500 A class, made it two winning with ease. Here it was Chaminda Weerasooriya who always posed a threat, but he managed to hold onto his lead which he gained from the start. Dilshard Hamdoon finished behind Rangana and Weerasooriya.

In the SL-GT Cars upto 3500 CC as expected it was Dinesh Deheragoda in his Mitsubishi EVO IX who drove past the chequered flag first leaving behind Dinesh Jayawardene and Feroz Omar.

Deheragoda who held the pole position went ahead early to have a comfortable lead: never say die Jayawardene who too was behind the wheel of Mitsubishi EVO kept the chase until the finish of the race.

The second stage of the same did not work well for Deheragoda. He was in the lead until the last lap with once again Jayawardene and Reyaz Farook giving chase. Just coming into the last lap a tyre puncture put a halt to Deheragoda's dominance and he had to pull out of the event.

Dinesh Jayawardene won the race with Reyaz Farook and Feroz Omar following.

The other drivers who won an event each are Ajith Hemachandra in Austin Mini in the Group A Cars mini Saloon. 1000 CC.

Young Dilan Seneviratne drove his Nissan March excellently to win this class out pacing Dinesh Jayawardene and experienced Dhammika Pieris. Darin Weerasinghe got the better of Anil Jayakody and Yogh Perera in the Group SL-A cars 1400 CC.

Nishan Weerasooriya was a easy winner in the SL-H cars 3500 CC class taking the chequered flag ahead of Sarath Pathirage and P. Jayanthan.

Shane Gunewardena who made a comeback to the Katukurunda Track made it a memorable day winning two major events. Though he won these two event he had to fight all the way.

He faced a stiff challenge from two riders Nalin Perera and Indika Gurusinghe who too made a comeback to the track.

As expected Maduranga Caldera proved that is looking forward to take the championship tittle for the Year 2007 winning two events yesterday. The other rider to excel was Pradeep Kumar Fernando winning two events.

Krishan Dias, Rohana Jayaratne and Shiran Samuel won a event in different classes.

Full results will appear on Wednesday