Mobitel Drag Championship 2018 revs up in Katukurunda

From left: Drag Racing Association of Sri Lanka President Sabry Abdul Salam, Mobitel Senior General Manager (Marketing) Isuru Dissanayake, Ceylon Motor Sport Club President Niroshan Pereira, SML Frontier Automotive Marketing and CRM Manager Tasneem Siddeeque, and SML Frontier Automotive Approved Manager Chandima Gooneratne at the press conference – Pic by Upul Abayasekara

By Maleesha Sulthanagoda

The second round of the Mobitel Drag Championship 2018 will take place at the Katukurunda Racetrack on 12 August. The racing event is organised in collaboration with the Ceylon Motor Sports Club (CMSC), Drag Racing Association of Sri Lanka (DRASL) and the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF). The event’s main sponsor is Mobitel and their VIP partner is SML Frontier Automotive, the sole agents of Jaguar and Land Rover in Sri Lanka.

The Mobitel Drag Racing Championship 2018 Round 2 is set to offer an exciting range of exotic supercars, the Jaguar Art of Performance World Tour, karting slalom, drift challenges, street competitions, live DJ music, and an extensive range of street food stalls. It set to be a fun-filled day out for families and thousands of like-minded individuals. 

Speaking about the event, DRASL President Sabry Salam said: “Our promise is to bring back memories of the street racing days, with the introduction of the Mobitel Drag Racing Champion 2018. The aim of DRASL is to keep illegal racing away from public roads and to stop street racing from being a nuisance to society. This event is ideal for the adrenaline junkie as it will be packed with a renewed sense of adventure and multiple challenges. Therefore, we are inviting everyone to come be a part of the speed event. We are thrilled to have Jaguar The Art of Performance Global Tour at the Mobitel Drag Racing Championship 2018 Round 2, too.”

Explaining the concepts of races, CMSC President Niroshan Pereira said: “Our aim is to organise and conduct a drag racing championship every year, consisting of three rounds. These would help us entail, maintain, and regulate drag racing with rules that comply with international standards as well as being localised within Sri Lanka to make it fair for every competitor. On 12 August, we aim to flag down Mobitel Drag Racing Championship 2018 Round 2 at 8 p.m. Competitors will go head-to-head on a straight track for 16 seconds or less, as our aim is to create a drag race that is fast on the action and furious with the details. We hope to thrill our audience with that exciting smell of fuel and burning rubber.”

Commenting on the championship, Mobitel Senior General Manager - Marketing Isuru Dissanayaka said: “Mobitel is delighted to be the main sponsor of the Mobitel Drag Racing Championship 2018 Round 2. As the national mobile service provider, Mobitel understands the need for speed in today’s fast-evolving world and is continually enhancing its offerings and forging partnerships to offer speed and convenience across various aspects of people’s lives. This legendary drag championship, organised by the CMSC, DRASL and Sri Lanka Air Force, offers a great opportunity for racing enthusiasts and promotes interest in the sport of racing, which has seen some promising emerging talent. Mobitel remains committed to supporting sporting events across the country and to being a part of the national drive to encourage sportsmen, women, and emerging sporting events to the forefront as a part of its corporate mandate. Promoting sporting events, sportsmanship, and competitiveness will create a strong foundation of future leaders in the automotive industry.” 

Speaking on The Art of Performance Tour by Jaguar, SML Frontier Automotive Marketing and Customer Experience Manager Tasneem Siddeeque noted that they are excited to bring the global tour to Sri Lanka. “We are excited to launch The Art of Performance Global Tour this season in Sri Lanka. It was first introduced in Europe, and the event is making a stop in Sri Lanka for the first time as a part of its Asia Pacific tour. The experience is a clear demonstration of what our vehicles offer – performance, speed and design. This is an unrivalled experience like never before,” she added. 

Mobitel Drag Race Championship 2018 Round 2 is organised to generate funds for charity, with the main benefactor being the Air Force Seva Vanitha Fund, which is a Government charity organisation. 

Pic by Upul Abeysekara