All set for the Southern Monsoon Rally 2007

All arrangements have been finalised for the 5th annual Southern Monsoon Rally 2007, organised and conducted by the Southern Motor Sports Club (SMSC) of Matara on December 1 and 2.

Over the last decade, SMSC has organised and conducted many high quality sports events, which included the Southern Rally, Eliyakanda Speed Hill Climb, Beach Horse Races, Beach Motor Cross, Motor Sports Triathlon comprising a drag race, auto test and a hill climb, SMSC Keells Hotels Safari Rally (Special Stage Speed Rally at Kanthale) and Southern Super Cross for President's Trophy at Ceylon Auto Drome (CAD) at Tissamaharama. success of these events boosted the reputation of SMSC as a high quality race meet organising body.

Another notable achievement of SMSC was the construction of the CAD racetrack at Tissamaharama. CAD was a brainchild of the patron of SMSC, Shasheendra Rajapaksa, who is the Basnayake Nilame of Kataragama Devalaya and Private Secretary to President. This year's rally is set to work out as a high quality event as usual and is attracted by many top drivers and navigators of the country.

The rally is scheduled to take off from the Sanath Jayasuriya Stadium Matara. The first car will be flagged off by Minister of Mass Media, Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena at 7.02 pm and the other competitors would follow at 02 minute intervals and will be flagged off by Shasheendra Rajapaksa, Upul Nishantha, the Mayor of Matara, Gamini Jayasuriya, GA Matara, Ayupala, SSP Matara, H.G. Sirisena, Working Director of National Lotteries Board and V.K. Indika, Minister of Sports of the Southern Provincial Council.

The first stage would cover a distance of approximately 212 km on tarmac and gravel terrains and is expected to travel through Akuressa, Urubokka, Mavarala, Rakwana, Godakawela, Udawalawe and scheduled to finish at Embilipitiya at around 12.00 midnight.

The second stage would start at 2.00 am on Sunday after a two-hour break at Embilipitiya and this stage would cover a distance of approximately 160 km through Suriyawewa, Meegahakandura, Lunugamwehera, Thanamalwila and would end at Hambantota at around 6.00 am. This stage was originally planned to have a distance of about 200 km, which included a route via Tissamaharama and Kirinda but organisers decided to eliminate this section due to unavoidable circumstances.

Competitors would commence the final stage at 9.00 am on Sunday and expected to cover a distance of approximately 190 km through Hambantota, Ambalantota, Baragama, Suriyawewa, Embilipitiya, Agunukolapelassa, Weeraketiya, Walasmulla, Hakmana, Beliatta and rally would end at Tangalle at around 1.00 pm.

There would be a transport stage from Tangalle to Matara and competitors would leave Tangalle at around 5.00 pm and would reach Matara at around 6.00 pm. The first car is expected to reach the finish ramp at 6.02 p.m. and others are expected to follow.

According to the President of SMSC and the Chief Plotter of the Rally, Andrew Silva, this year's rally is a tough and challenging one, as it would test the ultimate supremacy of the man and the machine.

Following competitors are expected to compete in the event

Tariq Hassen, T.F. Kapilaratne, Shafraz Junaid, Shalutha Addasuriya, Nishan Weerasooriya, W.M.N. Bandara, Sathy Watson, K.S. Digala, Jagath Munasinghe, Athula Surendra, Pubudu Wickrama, Samagi Ranaweera, Mansur Hassen, Ashhar Hameem, Reeza Faiz, Eranda Wakishta, Deepthi Perera, Chamika Ranatunga, Chandana, Upul Perera, Dishan Goonasekara, Sanjaya Sedara Senarath, Nusky Mohamed, M.H.M. Ziyam, A. Suriyabandara, Bimal Ukwattha and Mahinda Premarathna.