Record number of entries for Nuwara Eliya Road Races

S M Jiffrey Abdeen Kandy sports correspondent

One hundred and fifteen racing drivers and riders will be seen in action at the annual Nuwara Eliya road race 2012 revived after a lapse of three years and organized by the Sri Lanka Motor Cycle Club which will be worked off in Nuwara Eliya on Thursday, April 19 commencing at 8 am. The official practices for grid positions will be held on the previous day commencing at 1.30 pm.

The President of the Sri Lanka Motor Cycle Club Hafiz Cader in a press briefing yesterday said that the weather up in the hills is keeping fine especially in the mornings and that 12 events have been lined up for the day. The course is in good condition following the rehabilitation of the roads in the Nuwara Eliya town. He was hopeful that they could finish off the events before the weather gods made their presence.

He said that he was up in Nuwara Eliya these days to finalize the arrangements as it is no easy task to conduct motor races in the city of Nuwara Eliya during the height of the holiday season. But his committee has rallied round him to make things easy.

There will be a total of 12 events - six for motorcycles and another six for motor cars. This motor race has been conducted for over sixty years in the past and it has generated a lot of interest and this year will be no exception as the holiday crowds is awaiting for action and the competitors are waiting to dish them out in plenty.

Mrs Ruveena Cader another livewire of the Sri Lanka Motor Cycle Club and a motor racing enthusiast said some of the top racing drivers who have entered the fray are mini race Yoga Perera, Sachith Pathirana, Kandan Parameswaran, Donald Buultjens, Dr Sedera Senarath, Upulwan Serasinghe, Michael Wijesuriya, Dhammika Peiris, Tharindu Lokuge, S Panduwawela, Susantha Gunawardena and Ajith Premachandra are some of them. The non turbo event introduced for the first time will see Dr Sedera Senarath, Pradeep Wijesiriwardena, Shantha Suraweera, Hafiz Cader, Yoga Perera, Ajith Keerthi and Lt Col Duminda Jayasinghe.

Sachith Pathirana and Donald Buuljens won their events at the recently concluded Mahagastota Speed Hill Climb. Yoga Perera is the top favourite for the modified 1050 cc event. The one make Ford Laser / Mazda events for 1300 cc and 1500 cc will be dominated by the dare devil racing driver Upulwan Serasinghe known for his tosses and tumbles.

The events for motorbikes should see the return of the Wedisinghe brothers Ananda and Udesh who are masters of the motor-scene, and the others who should thrill the crowds are Vikum Ranjith, Srian Rambukwella, Suraj Perera, Shane Silva, Chaminda Subhasinghe, Rohan Pathirana, Ramal Pathiratne, Shirley Wijesinghe, M C S Perera, Prabath Peiris, V P Shanthiram, Krishan Dias and many others.

Upulwan Serasinghe is one of the best in the road races scene today and has been the SLARDAR champion in his category for eight years and therefore he should go as a hot hot favourite in the two Ford Laser / Mazda events. Dr Sedera Senarath too has been a winner at Mahagastota and many other events and he should sparkle in the non turbo 2000 event along with Yoga Perera and Shantha Suraweera.

The distribution of awards is expected to be held immediately after the completion of events and the official results are received from the stewards after scrutiny.