Sigiriya Rally Circuit opens

The newly constructed Rally circuit in the perimeters of Sri Lanka Air Force Base in Sigiriya will get its baptism on Sunday when Sri Lanka Air Force with the assistance of Sri Lanka Association of Racing Drivers and Riders (SLADAR) conduct the Sigiriya Rally Cross commencing 9 a.m.

They will conduct 20 events (8 motorcycles and 12 cars and Jeeps) in different categories. These events will be contested by leading drivers and riders as all of them have entered the event to make this a success. Specially the champion riders will have a big battle as this is a new track that they ride on. Whatever the conditions on the track is immaterial when the skill and the intelligence use will put the riders in front.

With the champion rider Gayan Sandaruwan hoping to have a go here on this new circuit confront many talented riders of the calibre of Pasindu Pieris, Tuan Ossan, Rumesh Bultjens and up and coming youngster from Kurunegala District Ishan Dassanayake. These riders named below Gayan will try to over ride the champion on this which will definitely thrill the spectators who will be there to cheer the champion rider Gayan.

Present day motor racing fans make their way to any part of the country to watch their heroes specially the riders.

These local riders have to have a good look at the two Indian riders representing the TVS racing team who arrived in the island to compete at this meet. The Indian champion riders expected to give the locals a stiff competition are H.K. Pradeep and K.P. Arvind. They are managed by TVS Reception Manager Aravind.

H.K. Pradeep will be astride a TVS RTR 250 CC bike to pose the threat for the locals. Two of them addressing the media said that they are new to the Sri Lankan circuits and also get the opportunity to ride on a newly constructed track. We will have a good look during our practice sessions before predicting our performance patterns. Whatever the track we hope to do everthing possible to win our events.

In car events too a hotly contested races are expected to be witnessed by the spectators. Specially in the 3500c super car class with all table leaders in the national championship entering the fray to prove their superiority on the track.

Dinesh Deheragoda and Aravinda Premadasa who have been battling it out for nearly a decade in this class will face stiff competition from the experienced drivers Rizvi Farook, Riyaz Farook, young Pasindu Pieris, Janaka Dias and Missaka Navin. All these drivers have been chasing the two leaders at times they have got past them and hope to do the same here on this track too.

The track being a mixture with 800 m tarmac and the balance 1600m gravel the drivers are expected use their experience to the maximum in controlling their machines. The driver who do well on both surfaces is sure to reach the chequered flag first to write his name as the first winner here.

The other categories in the cars will be contested between Nishan Wasalathanthri, Pasindu Pieris and Upulwan Serasinghe. These three drivers have been sharing honours between them at different meets.

The youngster too will be given an opportunity to test this track on this day. The events worked out for these youngsters are under 10 kiddies, 13, and 16. - BP