Samuel steals the limelight at Nuwara Eliya races

S.M. Jiffrey Abdeen – Kandy Sports Correspondent

Exciting fare was witnessed in the 51st circuit race in Nuwara Eliya conducted by the Sri Lanka Motor Cycle Club in association with the Nuwara Eliya Motor Cycle Club and the Nuwara Eliya Municipal Council which was worked off before a very large holiday crowd at Nuwara Eliya on Sunday.

Rains fell in early afternoon but the organisers after brief stoppages went ahead with the races to avoid disappointment to the Motor racing fans who braved the inclement weather.

In the event for Motor Cycles it was Shrian Samuel who stole the show by winning two top events putting the experienced rider Maduranga Caldera in the shade despite the latter breathing fire behind.

Veteran drive Hifiz Cader who his second event at Nuwara Eliya for this season. He drove his Austin Mini Cooper in heavy rain with beautiful control of his vehicle in pouring rain. In fact Michael Wijesuriya who was in pole position did not run perhaps did not want to take a risk in conditions not conducive to speed and manoeuvring of the vehicles.

Another driver to sparkle was Upulwan Serasinghe in Laser/Mazda 1500cc event when he shot off to front and maintained his lead till the finish despite 15 year old schoolboy Kushan Peiris pushing him hard from behind.

Kushan's father the veteran racer Dammika Peiris won a tough event in standard cars upto 1000 and weathered a storm from behind by cricketer Sachith Pathirana in a Nissan March which was subject to a protest at Mahagastota which turned out to be a “blank fuse” and Pathirana was cleared of all allegations.

A rider who came up with some excellent riding was Shazran Ismath Noor who came from obscurity to win two events.

It was brave effort by the organisers who did the trials, timing and the races all in a day which is un-paralled in the history of motor racing in Sri Lanka especially in the public road.

Motor cycles:

Group ‘M’ Std/Modified upto 125cc (2 stroke) 1. S. Ismath Noor (Yamaha), 2. D.A. Shane Silva (Yamaha), 3. Jeff Ande CHI, (Yamaha).

Group SM Super mortared over 100 cc upto 125 cc (2 stroke).

Udika Sirmal (Hamaha), 2. Chaminda de Silva (Yamaha), 3. M.G. Sarath Kumarasinghe (Honda),

Group ‘O’ Std over 125 cc upto 160 cc (4 stroke mono cylinder)

Shazram Ismath Noor (Sha racing), 2. T. Vasunewan (Hero Honda), 3. S.P.C Chaminda

Group ‘O’ standard Yamaha one make over 125 cc up to 160 cc (4 stroke) Mono cylinder

R.S. Nimasha Fernando (Yahama), 2. R.M. Balasuriya (Yamaha), 3. S.B. Rakwana (Yamaha).

Group ‘O’ Std over 100 cc upto 125 cc (4 stroke) Mono Cylinder, 1. Sanjeewa Udaya Kumara (Honda), 2. Prabath Perera (Honda), 3. Chaminda Subasinghe (Honda).

Group ‘O’ Std upto 125 cc 1. M.C.S. Perera, (Honda), 2. K.M.S. Niroshana (Honda).

Group ‘M’ Modified over 175 cc upto 250 cc (4 Stroke) 4 cylinder.

Shrian Samuel (Honda), 2. Madhurnaga Caldera (Honda), 3. Lathika Shamal (Honda).

Group ‘SM’ super motored over 175cc upto 250cc 1. Suraj Perera (Honda),2. Ananda Wedsingha (Yamaha), 3. M.S. Anjana Dias (Honda).

Group ‘M’ Std Modified over 100 cc upto 250 cc (4 stroke) 4 cylinder 1. Shrian Samuel (Honda), 2. Maduranga Caldera (Honda) 3. Lalitka Lakmal (Honda).

Group ‘R’ racing over 100 cc upto 125 cc (2 stroke) and over 175 cc upto 250 cc (4 stroke) Mono cylinder 1. Prabath Peiris (Yamaha), 2. Frank Dissanayake (Yamaha), 3. S.K. Tyron (Honda),

Group ‘M’ Sstandard Modifiend over 600 cc (4 stroke) Shiran Samuel (Yamaha) 2. Madurnaga Caldera (Yamaha), 3. Fareez Mazar (Honda).

Motor Cars

Group Standard upto 1000 cc 1. Dhammika Peiris (Nissan), 2. Sachith Pathirana (Nissan), 3. Harhsa Panduwalwala (Nissan).

Group SL-A mini upto 1000 cc 1. Shashika Lakmal Wijeratne (Austin Mini 7), 2. Kandan Parameswaran (Austin Mini 7), 3. Chathura Wijeragne (Austin Mini 7).

Group SL-N Ford Laser Mazda 1300 cc 1. Susantha Gunawardena (Ford Lazeer), 2. Kushan Peiris (Mazda), 3. Janith Kumarage (Ford Laser).

Group SL-N (Ford Laser) Mazda upto 1500 cc 1. Upulwan Serasinghe (Ford Lazer), 2. Kushan Peiris (Ford Lazer), 3. Duminda Jaysinghe (Mazda).

Group SL-N Subarau upto 22000cc (Non Turbo) 1. Shantha Suraweera (Subaru), 2. Chavinda Dharmawardena (Subaru), 3. Manjula Shiran (Subaru).

Group SL-A modified up to 1050 cc 1. Hafiz Cader (Austin Mini Cooper), 2. Donald Buultjens (Austin Mini).