New and improved Colombo Night Races to take off on 15 December

By David Ebert

The dates for the second annual Colombo Night Races 2012 were announced at a press briefing held at the 80 Club Colombo on Wednesday.

The race conducted by the Carlton Motor Sports Club together with the Asian Motor racing Club as well as the Sri Lanka Motorcycle Club and scheduled for 15 December with the qualifying rounds on 14 December, will involve a host of both Sri Lankan and international drivers and riders in the ten events to be worked off on the day.

CNR Course Clerk Shehan De Tissera stated that spectators can expect an event with many new improvements to the facilities for both spectators and the participants as well. Tissera also stated that the new enhanced safety features included this year would ensure the total safety of all present on the day outlining the addition of over 150,000 sandbags, 5000 tyres  lining the track and 3,000 metres of chain link fencing to prevent debris from any possible crashes harming the spectators.

In addition to this, Tissera pointed out that the whole event has been insured for public liability boosting the safety profile of the event significantly, while six emergency paramedic teams will be deployed this time around to cope with any possible mishaps.  

Another new feature to the track this year would be the addition of a 900 metre Galle Face stretch running from the Intercontinental roundabout up to the independence celebrations saluting platform, which as Tissera pointed out would be the fastest part of the track for spectators to catch the action from.

Responding to a query regarding the public inconvenience caused during the previous year’s event Tissera responded saying: “We have had a series of meetings with the hotels in the last two months were we informed them of the dates and some hotels have even come in with sponsorships and have planned their own events around the races with food outlets and other activities. So where functions are concerned, we have made allowances on Saturday and Sunday for a special shuttle service from designated areas during the planned road openings during the awards presentations between races.”

The highlight of the day’s motor car events scheduled to be worked off will be the much looked forward to GT 3 & 4 event with drivers from Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan, Hong Kong and Sri Lanka vying for honours, in addition to the VW Polo, Toyota Etios, SL-H up to 1600cc, SL –GT up to 3500cc and the formula McLarens 1300cc categories.

The motorcycle events planned for the day would be the racing and modified above 250cc event, racing and modified up to 125cc two stroke / up to 250cc four stroke, Super Motard open up to 125cc and the standard 250cc four stroke categories. De Tissera also noted that the motorcycle events have seen participants from the Maldives taking part as well for the first time, highlighting the growing popularity of the races. Entries for the event will close on 30 November.