Wednesday Dec 11, 2024
Wednesday Dec 11, 2024
Tuesday, 3 December 2013 01:38 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The rally started at the Public Car Park at Thalawathugoda in Jayawardenapuara and finished Stage 1 in Embilipitiya around midnight. Stage 1 ran through the Western and Sabaragamuwa Provinces and the drivers and their navigators had to experience extreme weather conditions making it extremely difficult for them to achieve given average speeds.
This stage consisted of a route through estate gravel roads and hill climbs and Nalaka navigated by Thivanka obtained a total of 73 debit points whilst the first Runner-up Noel Rodrigo navigated by Sajith Vithanage had 83 debits. Dr. Sanjaya Sedara Senarath navigated by Rahal Uluwita finished 2nd Runner-up with just five debit points more than Noel.
Organisers decided to extend the midnight break by one hour as most of the drivers could not keep pace with the front runners and were getting late to finish the first stage. Stage 2 started at 3:02 a.m. from Embilipitiya and the competitors were taken through scenic routes with lot of hill climbs and winding down hill roads which taxed their braking to the maximum.
After driving for almost three hours and 30 minutes and 200 kilometres the rally finished at Moonamale Estate in Hanwella. Stage 2 had the identical winning combinations as the Stage 1 with Nalaka and Thivanka emerging winners followed by Noel navigated by Sajith and Dr. Sanjaya 
Sedara Senarath navigated by Rahal Ulluwita.
The only motorcyclist who took part in the rally, Atkila Kamalendra navigated by J.A.B. Abeygunawardena finished the first stage despite having to ride through extreme monsoon showers and muddy gravel roads. They were awarded the trophy for motorcycles.
Overall positions remained the same as no other driver was able to challenge the top runners. The team event was won by the Southern Vibes consisting of Dr. Sanjaya Sedara Senarath,
Ashhar Hameem and Jagath Munasinghe with an aggregate debit points haul of 807.
The rally was a major success for the organisers as all competitors were full of praise for the slick organisation and tough conditions which tested both man and machine to the utmost.
The SLARDAR-SLMCC night rally was sponsored by Kia Motors (Lanka) Ltd. agents for Kia vehicles and co-sponsored by leading tyre manufacturer CEAT. The awards ceremony was held at the finish.
