Ashan, Dilan dazzle racing fans

Speed Championship 2013 off to flying start:

Chinthana Wasala

Ashan Silva won the SLGT Cars upto 3500cc event, beating Dilan Seneviratne in a close battle while Dilan beat Ashan in the SLH Cars upto1600cc event in a bumper to bumper battle at the first round of the Speed Championship 2013 which was held at the Pannala International Circuit last Sunday.

The racing for the year 2013 began with that event, organized and conducted by Asian Motor Racing Club with the blessings of the Sri Lanka Automobile Sport, the governing body for motor racing.

Ashan Silva clearly proved that he is one of the top class drivers last year grabbing three national awards. He maintained his reputation as the best driver and was the biggest attraction on this day especially in the SL-H 1600cc Class.

The race was evenly contest by Ashan and Dilan. Ashan was the biggest threat to Dilan and the two of them were engaged in a close battle throughout the event. Finally Dilan was the winner and Ashan the runner up.

The other event where these two drivers battled again, was in the SL-GT up to 3500cc Class. Ashan was in pole position and was off in flash giving no room for his main rival but soon Dilan caught up and held on to the top spot for a lap for a short while. Ashan did not let it go easily and retained the lead and kept on moving smoothly until he earned the chequered flag in style.

Another notable performer was the 13 year old driver Kyle Crossland who competed in the McLarens Formula 1300cc event. The event specially was conducted for the young drivers who are aspiring to be future Formula drivers.

These drivers had undergone training in Go Karting and Pro Karting at ‘Speed Drome’ in Battaralmulla where they train to step onto the race track. Ameer Ghafoor was in pole position, Liam Lawrence and Kyle Crosland the youngest at 12 plus. They were really outstanding with their driving skills and three of them were seen on the podium twice.

Seven Motor Cycle events too were conducted with the assistance of Sri Lanka Motor Cycle Club. These too were of great importance to the large gathering of spectators. Most of the motor cycle events were contested by the young riders. This circuit is one that gives the young drivers and riders an opportunity to excel on to the track.

The importers of Bajaj and Yamaha came forward to organize two events for their product ‘Bajaj’ Three Wheelers and ‘Yamaha’ Motor Cycles. This opportunity will also help as an encouragement for riders to enter the field of Motor Racing in the future.

The most interesting was the entry of two brothers Jaden and Aaron for the Group ‘SM’ Super Motard Open event where the veteran for this event Ananda Wedisinghe in completion. Though tough riders were in front the two brothers aged ten and eight never gave and were seen fighting all way.

In the Motor Cycle events Chathura Madusanka was the only rider to have won two events on this opening meet for the year 2013.

Susantha Gunewardene, Shantha Surweeera, Michael Wijesuriya, K. Parameshwaram and Irfan fuard recorded victories in car events. In Motor Cycle events Prabath Peiris, Dananjaya, Chathura Madusanka and Yasas Madusanka Somaratne registered wins in their respective categories.

[RESULTS]

Formula McLarens 1300cc (Race 1):

1. Ameer Ghafoor
2. Liam Lawrence
3. Kyle Crosland

SL-N up to up to 1000cc:

1. Michael Wijesuriya
2. Ushan Perera
3. Praveen Madugalle

Ford Laser/Mazda1300cc:

1. Susantha Gunewardene
2. Randika Niroshan
3. Janith Kumarage

Group ‘O’ Bajaj One Make Series:

1. Tharindu Dananjaya
2. Shantha Ranasinghe
3. Chathura Madusanka

Group ‘O’ Standard Motor Cycles up to125cc:

1. Chathura Madushanka
2. Chaminda Subasinghe
3. Shivanka Philip

Group ‘O’ Yamaha One Make Series 160cc:

1. Eranda Sampath Hemachandra
2. Yasas Madushanka Somaratne
3. Nimesha Balasuriya

SL-A Mini 7:

1. K. Parameshwaram
2. Dilan Perera
3. Shashika Lakmal Wileratne

Ford Laser/Mazda 1500cc:

1. Irfan Fuard
2. Chaminda Werasooriya
3. Kushan Peiris

SL-H up to 1600cc:

1. Dilan Seneviratne
2. Ashan Silva
3. Dinesh Jayawardene

Subaru Legacy 2000cc non Turbo:

1. Tyronne Hendawitharana
2. Shantha Suraweera
3. Ushan Perera

Group ‘R’ Racing Motor Cycles 125cc:

1. Prabath Peiris
2. V.T. Ram
3. Jaden Gunewarddene

Group ‘M’ Standard Modified Motor Cycles 125 (2/T):

1. Jeff Adre Chi
2. Chathura Madusanka
3. N.S.M. Shazan

Group ‘M’ Standard Modified Motor Cycles 125 (4/T) Forces Event:

1. Kaushal Pathum
2. M.C.S. Perera
3. M.C.S.P.K. Maddumage

Bajaj Three Wheeler 3 200cc:

1. Ishan Hasantha
2. Suasantha Kumar Appuhamy
3. Gayan Pradeep Perera

Group ‘SM’ Super Motard Open:

1. Ananda Wedisinghe
2. Thusitha Gunesekera
3. Kasun Danushka

SL-GT up to 3500cc:

1. Ashan Silva
2. Dilan Seneviratne
3. Dinesh Jayawardene

Formula McLarens 1300cc (Race 2):

1. Aameer Ghafoor
2. Liam Lawrence
3. Kyle Crosland