‘Hutch Sri Lanka Super Series 2018’ unveiled with sensational prizes

• Champion drivers and riders to receive brand new cars and motorcycles

The 2018 motoring season is set to flag off in grand style as the HUTCH Sri Lanka Super Series 2018 conducts the first of its 10 racing events later this month. 

Powered by HUTCH, the 2018 edition of the Sri Lanka Super Series takes place in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Association of Racing Drivers and Riders (SLARDAR) and the Asian Motor Racing Club (AMRC).

The media conference announcing the launch of the ground-breaking racing extravaganza was held at the DIMO 800 Auditorium under the patronage of the Chief Guest Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara. In addition to the Main Sponsor HUTCH, the Co-Sponsors for the series included Maxxis Tyres, Stafford Motors, McLarens Lubricants and Promowatch.

The 10 racing events of the HUTCH Sri Lanka Super Series 2018 will include the Katukurunda Circuit Meet, Fox Hill Supercross, Walawe Supercross, Kanway Auto Drome Circuit Meet, Colombo Supercross, Cavalry Supercross, Commando Challenge Supercross, Lions Top Speed – Katukurunda Circuit Meet, Pannala Night Races, Kanway Auto Drome Circuit Meet (Motorcycles Only) and Katukurunda Circuit Meet II while the season will end in November with the awards ceremony. 

For the first time in Sri Lanka, two Rookie Cup events for both cars and bikes are to be introduced. Titled ‘The McLaren Formula Rookies Cup for Novice Drivers’ and ‘Honda One Make Series for Rookie Riders’, the two Rookie events will be held at Katukurunda and Pannala while the two Rookie bike events will be held on the Mirigama Circuit as part of the Super Series Championship event with the objective of providing much-needed racing experience to new race drivers and riders, thereby paving the way for local racing talent to excel at the regional and global level.

SLARDAR has already given its nod to support a ‘TRI Nation Championship’ organised by the world controlling body FIM and also worked to bring down the Asian Supermotard Championship to Mirigama. These moves will undoubtedly put Sri Lanka on the racing map and open doors for many more Lankans to race on foreign soil.

Across the 10 main events, Sri Lanka’s finest drivers and riders will battle it out to be crowned the Champion Driver and Champion Rider by the end of the year. The Champion Driver and the Champion Rider will receive a brand new car each courtesy of Maxxis Tyres and co-sponsored by Mobil as the Lubricant Partner as well as Promowatch as the Event Partner. 

Additionally, the two winners of the second most popular support race events classes in cars and motorcycles in the supporting events - the Ford Laser/Mazda 1500cc and the Supermotard Open - will receive a brand new Honda Unicorn motorcycle each courtesy of Stafford Motor Company. All awards will be handed over at the gala awards ceremony to be held in November at the Eagles’ Lakeside Banquet and Convention Hall, Attidiya.

Speaking at the official launch ceremony, SLARDAR President Kamil Hussain stated: “SLARDAR has always been instrumental in taking Sri Lankan motor racing in a new direction in a responsible manner. Last year, we gave away a brand new car and motorcycle in the highly-successful inaugural Sri Lanka Super Series. This year we are proud to announce that for the first time in Sri Lanka, two brand new cars and two brand new motorcycles will be awarded to the winners. This is an unprecedented achievement not just in motor racing but across any sport. We believe that this extraordinary gesture will help enhance the competitiveness of the series and encourage the drivers and riders to perform at a higher level than ever before in order to be the overall winner and bag the coveted prizes.”

He added: “As you are aware, we have always focused a great deal on continuous improvement of the sport and therefore I am proud to state that this year’s ‘Sri Lanka Super Series’ is bigger and better than ever before. We have made every possible effort to provide greater resources and grander prizes in order to attract, encourage and motivate the country’s finest drivers and riders to perform at their best. I am sure they will offer plenty of thrills to the huge crowds that are expected at each of the events.” 

He stated that the sport would never be what it was today if not for the passion shown by the competitors, going on to add: “From the very beginning, SLARDAR and AMRC have been at the forefront in rewarding the competitors and we are confident that with these new developments, the sport will be taken to greater heights during the year.”

AMRC President Dinesh Jayawardana commented: “I am proud to state that we have been able to successfully overcome the challenges that we faced last year. While the 2017 season and the awards ceremony were successfully carried out, there was a request made by the motorcycle riders which I am happy to say that both our associations have been able to implement this season. That is the awarding of a motorcar to the champion rider and two motorcycles to the winners of the Ford Laser/Mazda 1500cc and the Supermotard Open events. My gratitude goes out to all the companies that have come forward to support us as sponsors. We are confident that together we will be able to make this the most memorable racing season in our country’s history.”

The Sri Lanka Motor Cycle Club decided to join two events, namely the Walawe Super Cross and Katukurunda Race 2 with Hutch Sri Lanka Super Series 2018 this year as a result of the success of the past events.

Several distinguished guests graced the occasion including Rodney Mason - Founder President of SLARDAR; Rohan de Silva - Founder President of AMRC; Sujith Kumar - FIM Asia Vice President, Sri Lanka’s famous GT3 Asia Champion/Racing Driver; Brig. Duminda Srinagar (Walawe Super Cross) - Col Commandant of Sri Lanka Army Electrical, Mechanical and Engineering Regiment; Major Gen. Satyapriya Liyanage (Cavalry Super Cross) - Colonel Commandant Sri Lanka Armoured Corps; Brig. Krishantha Gnanaratne (Commando Super Cross) - Commander Commando Brigade; Tarindra Kaluperuma - Executive Director of Stafford Motor Company; Thirukumar Nadarasa – CEO of Hutchison Telecommunications Lanka Ltd; Sudath Liyanasuriya - Head of Sales and Marketing of Maxxis Tyres and Capt. Isira Kasiwatta (Colombo Super Cross) - Sri Lanka Navy.