Ashan Silva fastest at Eliyakanda while Sangeeth Suriyage sets new course record

Ryan Gray competing in the Formula Cars event in his McLaren EFI

Text and Pix by P.D. De Silva 

Ashan Silva, driving a Mitsubishi Evolution IX, clocked 32.428 seconds in the SLGT 3500 cc event to record the fastest time for cars as well as the fastest time at the 24th Eliyakanda Hill Climb last Sunday, while Sangeeth Suriyage, riding a Yamaha YZ, clocked 33.75 seconds in the Group SM Super Motard Open event to set a new course record for motorcycles.

Silva was a mere .006 seconds behind the Eliyakanda course record of 32.422 seconds, held by Dilan Senevirathne since 2018. In the Group SM Super Motard Open event, both Sangeeth and second-placed Aaron Gunawardena bettered the previous record.

Jaden and Aaron Gunawardena of international racing repute and the sons of Shane Gunawardena a one-time ace rider, were taking part in a hill climb for the first time and made the podium in almost all the events they entered. Jaden won two events while Aaron placed second in four events.

Stephan Fernando made it to the podium on four occasions, winning two events and placing second and third in two more. 

Over 200 entries were received for the 15 motor car and 15 motorcycle events worked off on Sunday.

Silva, who was the fastest at this year’s SLT Speedup Eliyakanda Hill Climb, praised the organisers for the track’s preparation and the manner in which the event was conducted. He said that the Eliyakanda track presented a challenge and would return next year with the hope of rewriting the record books.

With drivers and riders pushing their machines hard to achieve record timings, there were more spills at this year’s event even though the track had been widened at the corners by about a foot.

Ryan Gray in his Formula McLaren EDI goes over the sand bags inches before the finish of his first run which ended his dream of a podium finish

A competitor negotiates the final bend of the Eliyakanda track 

Ashan Silva on his way to achieving the fastest time of the day

Event 1 SL-N Ford Laser/Mazda 323 up to 1500 cc

1 Rajith Uluwita (Ford Laser) 39.57

2 Mihan Peiris (Mazda Familia) 41.03

3 Mahesh Kodagoda (Mazda Familia) 41.59

Event 2 Formula McLarens 1300 cc EFI

Ashan Silva, the fastest at this year’s Eliyakanda Hill Climb, shares his thoughts

1 Chandima Gunerathne (Formula McLaren EFI) 37.70

2 Ryan Gray (Formula McLaren EFI) 40.23

3 Mevan Peiris (Formula McLaren EFI) 45.13

Event 03 Formula Cars Up To 1600 cc (Ford Formula)

Not Run

Event 4 Formula Cars Modified Up To 1665 cc

1 Nadeera Jinasena (Formula McLaren EFI) 35.38

2 Chandima Gunerathne (Formula McLaren EFI) 39.72

Event 5 Group T and J Open for diesel and petrol 

1 Dr. Sanjaya Sedara Senarath (Mitsubishi Pajero) 39.49

2 Cassim Wahab (Mitsubishi Pajero) 47.38

Event 6 Group A 1000 cc

1 Chamika Ranathunga (Nissan March) 38.07

2 Dilanka Wijessoriya (Nissan March) 38.17

3 Dilupa Palliyaguru (Nissan March) 38.65

Event 7 Mini 7 (One Make)

1 Sandaru Weerasinghe (Austin Mini) 38.07

2 Neel Weerasinghe (Austin Mini) 40.81

3 Namal Silva (Austin Mini) 41.46

Event 8 SLH Cars up to 1615 cc

1 Randika Niroshan (Honda Civic) 35.19

2 Irfan Fuad (Honda Civic) 35.99

3 Ayesh Bandara (Honda EK9) 37.05

Event 9 Subaru Legacy

1 Shiran Dool (Subaru Legacy) 37.99

2 Menaka Sandaruwan (Subaru Legacy) 38.58

3 Kishan Senarathne (Subaru Legacy) 44.57

Event 10 Mini up to 1275 cc (One Make)

1 Chanaka Rathnayaka (Austin Mini) 40.37

2 Suranjan Dabare (Moris Mini) 41.00

3 Sandharu Weerasinghe (Autoback Mini) 41.44

Event 11 SL GT 3500 cc

1 Ashan Silva (Mitsubishi Evolution IX) 32.428

2 Tyron Hendavitharana (Mitsubishi Evolution) 34 99

3 Manish Goinathilake (Mitsubishi Evolution) 36.53

Event 12 Nissan March 1000 cc

1 M M A Jayanith (Nissan March) 40.38

2 Nirosh Jeewantha (Nissan March) 40.94

3 Adeesha Kithwith (Nissan March) 42.03

Event 13 DL-E Ford Laser/Mazda 323 up to 1300 cc

1 Chamath Palliyaguru (Ford Laser) 40.69

2 Rashitha Pasan (Ford Laser ) 40.90

3 Nishantha Dunuwila (Ford Laser) 41.52

Event 14 Group D Cars Up To 1500 cc

1 Imran Yakoob (Suzuki Cultus) 39.00

2 Chamika Ranathunga (Nissan March) 39.63

3 Dilanka Wijesooriya 40.02

Event 15 Diesel Cars Open (Club Event)

1 Dilupa Palliyaguru (Toyota Camry) 44.82

2 Ranga Biyawala (Toyota Starlet) 46.14

3 Udara Palliyaguru (Toyota Camry) 48.01

Event 16 Southern Novices (Club Event)

1 Kumudith Wanigasekera (Ford Laser) 45.52

2 Nadun Uluwita (Ford Laser) 45.59

3 Sandharu Deerasekera (Mazda Familia) 46.72

Event 17 Group O - Standard Motorcycles 

Over 100cc UP TO 125cc 4T (Forces)

1 A.N. Lakmal 44.05

2 Dilum Disanayake (Honda JX) 46.54

3 Supun Danushka (Honda JX) 47.20

Event 18 Group O - Standard Motorcycles Over 100 cc UP TO 125CC -4T

1 Maheel Pavithra (Honda JX) 41.81

2 Dilan Rathnayaka (Honda Jx) 42.57

3 Supun Danushka (Honda Jx) 43 48

Event 19 Group O - Open Motorcycles 160 cc - 4T

1 Stephan Fernando (Honda CBR) 38.23

2 Vinula Pathirage (Honda CBR) 38.80

3 Janaka Dinesh (Honda CBR) 38.92

Event 20 Group M Standard Modified Motorcycles Over 100 cc Over Up To 125 cc 2T

1 Stephan Fernando (Yamaha TZR) 37.67

2 Ganeshan Wijekumar (Yamaha TZR) 38.46

3 Rusith Chamika (Yamaha TZR) 40 16

Event 21 Group M Modified Motorcycles 250 cc Supporters 4T

1 Janaka Dinesh (Honda CBR) 36.56

2 Stephan Fernando (Honda CBR) 36.63

3 Nipun Dilanka (Honda CBR) 37.54

Event 22 Group M Modified Motorcycles 600 cc Super Sport

1 Jaden Gunawardena (Honda CBR) 35.58

2 Aaron Gunawardena (Honda CBR) 35.875

3 Stephan Fernando (Kawazaki ZX6RR) 38.17

Event 23 Group M Modified Motorcycles Over 900 cc up to 1000 cc 4T

1 Jaden Gunawardena (Honda CBR) 34.44

2 Aaron Gunawardena (Honda CBR) 34.89

3 Reza Odayar (BMW HP4) 35.49

Event 24 Group M Street Motard 250 cc 4T (Club Event)

1 Maheel Pavithra (Kawasaki Tracker ) 36.82

2 Supun Suraj (Kawasaki Tracker) 37.74

3 Umesh Gunawardena (Yamaha WRF) 38.11

Event 25 Group M – 2T Open

1 Sarath Kumarasinghe (Honda CRM) 40.19

2 Shane de Silva (Honda CRM) 40.25

3 Jayampathi Dissanayaka (Huskwana KH) 41.77

Event 26 Group M Sports Touring Motorcycles 

1 Shashika Sandaruwan ((KTM Super Duke) 38.15

2 Supun Suraj (Honda Hornet) 38.41

3 P A S Prasanna (Honda Hornet) 41.38

Event 27 Group M Kawasaki Tracker 250 cc One Make 

1 Maheel Pavithra (Kawasaki Tracker) 36.06

2 Supun Suraj (Kawasaki Tracker) 37.03

3 Udara Chandimal (Kawasaki Tracker) 38.13

Event 28 Group M One Make Motor Cycle Yamaha FZ 160

1 P K Phillip (Yamaha FZ) 40.59

2 Tharindu Kodikara (Yamaha FZ) 40 70

3 Maheel Pavithra (Yamaha FZ) 41.77

Event 29 Group M Automatic Transmission Scooter Over 90 cc up to 115CC

1 Madushan Buddika (Yamaha Ray ZR) 46.04

2 Mevan Bulathwatte (Honda Dio) 46.91

3 Maheel Pavithra 47.63

Event 30 Group M Yamaha R15 One Make 

Not Run

Event 31 Group SM Supermotard 250 cc 4T

1. Dushan Mudaluge (Honda CRF) 34.47

2 Aaron Gunawardena (Yamaha YZF) 34.82

3 Reza Odayar (Suzuki RMZ) 35.29

Event 32 Group SM Super Motard Open

1 Sangeeth Suriyage ((Yamaha YZ) 33.75

2 Aaron Gunawardena (Husaberg) 34.27

3 Jaden Gunawardena (Husaberg) 34.72