Ashan proves his supremacy at Eliyakanda Hill Climb

Anuradha ABEYSEKERA and Priyan DE SILVA

Ashan Silva once again proved his supremacy in motor hill climbing as he improved his own record at the 16th Southern CEAT Eliyakanda Hill Climb's 'Group SL-GT cars up to 3500CC' event by riding his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo to a challenging 34.54 Sec. record timing on 845 tar terrain at Brown's Hill, Matara and walked away with the Preethi Palliyaguru Memorial Challenge Trophy for the third consecutive year which is awarded for the overall Best timing of the day.

He also emerged winner in the 'Group SL-H cars up to 1600CC' event recording 36.74 Sec. timing with his Honda VTEC. Meanwhile Sarath Kumarasinghe who rode his Honda CRF 250 to a 39.00 Sec. in the 'Up to 250CC Super Motard' event bagged the Fastest Timing award in motor bikes.

Fifteen-year old Kushan Peris became the other main focus in the race who surpassed his father and won the 'Group SL-H cars up to 1500CC' event with his Honda VTEC clocking 45.65 Sec.

The young promising motorist won second place in 'Group SL-N production cars up to and including 1300CC event as well.

The 16th version of Southern Hill Climb was conducted by the Southern Motor Sports Club (SMSC) with the main sponsorship of CEAT on a grand note, introducing 'Light start' and Internationally reputed 'Tag Heuer XL 440'timing system to the Sri Lankan motor hill climbing.

The event has been organized parallel to the 15th anniversary of SMSC.

Since the formation of SMSC in 1997 the event was conducted uninterruptedly every year, attracting most of the big names in the sport and developed to be the highest standard hill climb event in the country.

Altogether 47 bikes and 64 cars were competed in 25 race categories where the winners have been picked on best timing of two rides in each event.

Pan Asia bank, Harischandra Mills, Sedara Group of Companies and Premium International co-sponsord the Southern CEAT Eliyakanda Hill Climb 2012.

Results - Motor bikes :

Four stroke 125CC standard

1. Sudath Weerasinghe 45.33 Sec

2. Rohan D. Pathirana 45.87 Sec
3. Supun Danushka 45.92 Sec

Two stroke 125CC standard

1. Shehan Mark 40.91 Sec
2. Sarath Kumarasinghe 45.25 Sec
3. Dinusha Nayana Kumara 49.38 Sec

Four stroke 250CC standard

1. Maduranga Kaldera 40.99 Sec
2. Janaka Dinesh 41.01 Sec
3. Lathika Shamal 41.16 Sec

Up to 125CC street trail standard

1. Sivalingam Wasudewan 41.37 Sec
2. Sarath Kumarasinghe 42.58 Sec
3. Vijitha perera 42.97 Sec

250CC street trail bikes satandard

1. Y.A.M. Niranja 40.89 Sec
2. Shehan Mark 41.35 Sec
3. Rohan D. Pathirana 44.53 Sec

Four stroke 125CC standard :

(Forces event)

1. Kushal Darshana 45.74 Sec
2. Niroshan Kariyawasam 46.38 Sec
3. M.C.S. Perera 46.96 Sec

Four stroke 150CC standard

1. Sudath Weerasinghe 44.57 Sec
2. Prasad Ranaweera 46.71 Sec
3. Sivalingam vasudevan 48.34 Sec

Four stroke 125CC street trail

1.Shan Silva 42.26 Sec
2. Chandran Sivachandran 49.26 Sec
3. Dammika Pushpakumara 49.97 Sec

Up to 250CC supper motard

1. Sarath Kumarasinghe 39.00 Sec
2. Ushan perera 41.61 Sec
3. Indika Alahakoon 48.11 Sec

Supper motard – Open

1. Ushan Perera 39.56 Sec
2. Damith Botheju 51.73 Sec

Results – Motor Cars :

Group SL-N production cars up to 1300CC

1. Rohan Fernando 45.79 Sec
2. Shihan Meegama 46.10 Sec
3. Kushan Peiris 57.68 Sec

Group SL-N production cars more than 8.0 up to 10.0 Kg/BHP

1. Dinesh Senanayaka 39.06 Sec
2. Jagath Munasinghe 39.22 Sec
3. Rohithe Amarasinghe 40.98 Sec

Class-M Southern Province Novices - cars up to 2000CC

1. Nadeera Rathnayake 42.55 Sec
2. Senura Lakvin 43.50 Sec
3. Janith Sandaruwan 45.73 Sec

Group SL-S cars up to 1500CC

1. Shantha Suraweera 41.64 Sec
2. Ameen Deen 43.46 Sec
3. Mahen Hurulle 44.68 Sec

Group SL-A modified cars Mini 7

1. Ryan Tod 42.21 Sec
2. Namal Silva 43.13 Sec
3. Dilan Perera 43.61 Sec

Group SL-N production cars up to and including 1000CC

1. Dammika Piries 42.08 Sec
2. Sagara Deshapriya 43.65 Sec
3. Andrew Silva 44.17 Sec

Group SL-N production cars up to 2200CC

1. Tiron Hendavitharana 41.99 Sec
2. Hashen Piries 42.19 Sec
3. Sanjaya Sedara Senerath 46.94 Sec

Group SL-N production cars up to and including 1300CC

1. Shantha Suraweera 42.16 Sec
2. Kushan Peiris 43.54 Sec
3. WMK Wickramasinghe 44.19 Sec

Class -D- Diesel cars up to 2000CC

1. Prasanna De Alwis 46.23 Sec
2. Chamara R. Biyanwala 47.14 Sec
3. Mahendra Hurulle 49.30 Sec

Group SL-T&J - Open jeeps

1. Dinesh Senanayake 41.82 Sec
2. Sanjaya Sedara Senerath 43.76 Sec

Group SL-N production cars up to 1500CC

1. Dammika Peiris 41.97 Sec
2. Irfan Fuard 42.30 Sec
3. Sujith Wijewardana 42.34 Sec

Group SL-H cars up to 1600CC

1. Ashan Silva 36.74 Sec
2. Irfan Fuard 40.02 Sec
3. Sanjaya Sedara Senerath 40.19 Sec

Group SL-H cars up to 1500CC

1. Kushan Peiris 45.65 Sec
2. Dammika Peiris 47.16 Sec
3. Prasanna De Alwis 47.25 Sec

Group SL-GT cars up to 3500CC

1. Ashan Silva 34054 Sec
2. Darin Weerasinghe 35.17 Sec
3. Aravinda premadasa 36.27 Sec