CEAT-SLARDAR 1000 - Rally:

Attanayake, Uluwita rally kings

Geesha Munasinghe and Chinthana Wasala

Samin Attanayake and Rahal Uluwita emerged champions of the prestigious CEAT-SLARDAR 1000 – Rally 2012. The event organized by Sri Lanka Association of Racing Drivers and Riders after a lapse of four years, included four stages and the winning duo, Driver Attanayake and co-driver Uluwite conceded 22 debit points to win the rally convincingly.

The 1000 kilometre rally started at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall in parallel to the Colombo Motor Show on November 26.

The first stage was from Sri Jayawardenapura to Embilipitiya via Borella, Welikada, Thalangama, Walapane, Hali-Ela, Bindunuwewa and Udupussellawa with champions Attanayake and Uluwita winning the stage, just conceding one debit point.

The fourth and final stage started near the Diyatalawa Military Academy on October 28 at 8.00am and the rally ended at Talduwa. The overall rally marked its end at the BMICH. The overall second place was won by Waruna Ariyadasa and Nalaka Gunawardena who had 29 debit points in front of their names, while Noel Rodrigo and co- driver Andreas Klaus were placed third with 39 points.

Rodrigo and Klaus were also part of the Team Leopard which won the team championship along with Attanayake and Uluwita. Team EZY Racing were placed second and Team Southern Vibes S & D won the third place.

A total of 26 competing couples, including nine teams and three women were seen in action during the rally which ran through tough and dangerous roads, including around 70 percent of tarred roads and 30 percent of gravel roads. The determination and dedication of SLARDAR members were the success behind this entertaining rally which was upto international standards.