4X4 action rocks Embilipitiya

Yasaratne GAMAGE

Indika Sanjaya and Navin Marapana the 4x4 pair in their modified Land Rover became the cynosure at the Sappers 4x4 challenge at Thunkama, Embilipititya last Sunday. The duo won the overall championship in the innagural Gympo- 2011 at Sri Lanka Military Corps of Engineering training school off road track.

Saman H. Karannagoda and co-driver Naveen Halwathura won the overall championship in the standard class while Suneth Perera and Dinithi Wijeratne became the champions in the Sports Utility Vehicles (SUV).

Sulaiman Riyal with his co-driver Thushara Perera won the standard under 3000 CC category. In the extreme category over 3000 CC event champions trophy went to the hands of Deepthi Perera and Meesha Gunawardena.

The track dedicated for 4x4 off road gave the competitors the best challenge as a novel location in all special stages, specially the V groove and the rock climbing which twisted the axels and tested the competitors on every aspect.

The event started with SUVs taking on the Over and Under Eight shaped track. The standard 4x4s were to start on the sand pit and there were not many in the SUV class which was off for the day early. The spectators took on to their feet as with the flag off of extreme category where they had to traverse the V - groove and then the rock climb which most had to put everything they had to ascend. It was non other than Indika Sanjaya and Navin Marapana who rocked the fans by their magnificent team work to over come the first obstacle and ascend the rock mountain quicker than the others and then to cross the gully and return without winching.

Suresh Chaturanga and co-driver Ravindra Sanjeewa who became the runners up in the extreme category had no difficulty in SS1 and SS5 where other competitors found really hard while Shenal and Shermith Fernando had to give up after SS1.

Sujeewa Premaratne and Sanji Weerasinghe got their Ford almost rolled over near the center of the Eight shaped track in the Standard under 3000 CC event. Co driver Sanji Weerasinghe managed to get out of the vehicle with minor injuries. The recovery vehicle and a bulldozer tugged him to the track who raced only a few metres and had to give up the competition as the engine went dead.

Keen contestant in off road challenges, Saman Appuhami and Janaka Thilakaratne had to give up two stages as they ran out of time and as a result were dragged down the list.

The barrel barge transfer across a narrow part of the Chandrika Lake was not included in the days proceedings as had been planned. The event will continue annually and according to the organizers the off road enthusiast will be able to use the track throughout the year.

EVENT RESULTS:

Standard Class

Overall winners:

1. Saman H Karannagoda and Naveen Halwathura ( 285 points )

2. Sulaiman Riyal and Thushara Perera ( 260 points )

3. Chaminda Weerasuriya and Suranga Srinath ( 259 points )

Open event

1. Saman H Karannagoda and Naveen Halwathura (285 points)

2. Chaminda Weerasuriya and Suranga Srinath (259 points)

3. D S Jayasekara and C D Basnayake (248 points)

Under 3000 CC:

1. Sulaiman Riyal and Thushara Perera (260 points)

2. Denson Kumara and Ujitha Sanjeewani (217 points)

3. Sam Samarasinghe and Darshika Attanayake ( 170 points )

SUV Class

Suneth Perera and Dinithi Wijeratne

Sakvithi De Silva and Poorna Amarasinghe

Extreme Class under 3000 CC and overall winners:

1. Indika Sanjaya and Naveen Marapana ( 395 points )

2. Suresh Chaturange and Ravindra Sanjeewa (380 points)

3. Sihara Thilina and Nigel Weeraperumal ( 314 points)

Extreme over 3000 CC:

1. Deepthi Perera and Meesha Gunawardena (313 points )

2. Ranjan Fernando and Dimuthu Fernando (250 points)

3. Roshan Ratnayake and Nirosh Eranga (151 points)