Maduranga, Janaka kings at Rotherham Circuit

Chinthana Wasala

The Air Force runway at Katukurunda was the venue for some outstanding driving skills and the roar of powerful engines when the combination of man and machine provided the excitement at the Rotherham Circuit Meet 2011 on Sunday.

Maduranga Caldera who won the Group-P- STD/MOD motorcycles upto 1000cc open event, was named as the best rider of the meet. After some bumper to bumper struggles in both SL-GT cars upto 3500 cc events, Janaka Dias was adjudged the best driver of the 2011 edition of the Rotherham Circuit Meet.

Maduranga in his power-packed Yamaha YZF-R1 1000cc, was a hard catch for the others when it combined with his excellent riding skills. Ned Ernest Daniel was the threat for him in the 1000CC event. Earlier, Daniel overtook him in the 250cc event and won the first place, keeping Maduranga in the second place in the podium.

Janaka Dias, in his Subaru Impreza WRX 2000cc car, was truly impressive. He offered a tough challenge to more experienced drivers in his contest, Pasindu Peiris, Aravinda Premadasa and Dinesh Deheragoda, winning the first race of SL-GT cars upto 3500cc event while finishing third in the second race. Dilan Senevirathne on top of the podium in three occasions, winning the Group SL-N-upto 1500cc and SL-H-upto 1600cc race 1 and 2, leaving behind two of the toughest competitors in that event, Ashan Silva and Pasindu Peiris. Infact, he was the only driver to win three events at the meet this year.

Lady driver Yoshanee Wijesiriwardena was the only women to win an event. She was placed first in the SL-N-Subaru Legacy 2200cc event. The SLARDAR president Yoga Perera, in his Mini Cosmis, won the Group -A- cars upto 1050 cc event and experienced Upulwan Serasinghe also did not go empty handed as he won both Ford / Mazda 1300cc and 1500cc events.