Speed Championship 2012 Round 1 a great success

The First Round of the Speed Championship 2012 concluded on Sunday at the Pannala Race Track on a resounding note in the presence of the Minister of Sports Mahindaanada Aluthgamage.

The day’s programme began with the Formula McLarens 1300 event, competed by ten young drivers who qualified to drive these single seater vehicles for the first time. 

Tharindu Gamage who qualified for this event by clocking the best time during the trials held weeks back, did well once again to maintain his supremacy winning the race comfortably. He was followed by Chandima Gooneratne and Andrew Choksy. Race two of the same category run later in the day saw a new young driver Clement Senaratne take charge to win the event while the winner of race one, Tharindu failed to reach the podium.

In the Motor Car Events, the best performance was seen in the SL-GT 3500cc race with all top drivers in action. Pasindu Peiris was in pole position, and well ahead with Darin Werasinghe and Dinesh Deheragoda behind. They were engaged in this tough battle until the final lap. Dinesh who was at No. 3 position at this stage went past Darin and later pipped the leader Pasindu in a whisker at the finish line, for a photo finish, giving the spectators their money’s worth.

Another spectacle was witnessed in the Motor Cycle Group O 125cc Class when the two brothers, Jaden and Aaron Gunewardene the youngest two of all the Riders outbeat the top notch competitors to take the first two places in this event, while Chathura Madusanka was placed third. The two young riders were in peak form throughout, Jaden being in front from the beginning while Aaron who could not get a good start crept past the other competitors one by one to complete the event in second place.

The organisers of the Speed Championship should be commended for their efforts in the promotion of motor racing by the encouragement and support extended to the younger generation by introducing them to go-karting and pro-karting at Speed Drome in Battaramulla. 

In addition a training session was organised for these young and enthusiastic drivers prior to their participation in the Races which was conducted by an fia trainer, thereby producing a new set of Formula drivers for Sri Lanka.

In fact, the McLarens Group of Companies has introduced a new event titled ‘McLarens Alto K10 One Make Cars’ and in promoting this event further has purchased 10 brand new cars for the purpose of racing. Competitors in the McLarens Formula 1300cc category in 2011, who will not be running in this category this year, will be competing in the new Alto cars, until such time the new Formulas arrive in the island shortly. 

This class event was run as the third event for the day where last year’s competitor in the McLarens Formula 1300cc, Praveen Madugalle was in complete control and went on to win the event while Yanik Lawrence and Viren Boteju followed right up to the finish line..

The Ford Formula 1600cc Pre 85 event too was closely contested by Dinesh Jayawardana, Ashan Silva, Rohan de Silva, Rizvi Farook, young Rikaz Khalid and Shafraz Junaid. Ashan Silva who has made a name for himself for his top driving, in the past few years, came up with another brilliant performance to win the this class event after tough opposition from Dinesh, Rohan and Shafraz. Unfortunately, Rohan de Silva had to pull out half way during the race due to a technical problem with the vehicle.

The Post 85 Formula category event was won by S.A. Harsha, another young driver who is making a name for himself, along with brother and sister Duminda and Lakshika who are highly engaged in motor racing, following in the footsteps of their father S.A. Amarasiri. All three were seen in action although Lakshika failed to reach the podium.

Three veteran drivers, Rohan de Silva, Dhammika Peiris and Tharindu Lokuge, were seen in action in the SL-N Cars up to 1000cc event, with Dhammika making it to the finish line with Rohan and Tharindu following closely behind. 

A large and enthusiastic crowd had gathered at the Pannala Circuit last Sunday, to witness a great day of motor racing. The other four rounds of the Speed Championship 2012 too will be run on the same circuit in the coming months.

Results

Formula McLarens 1300cc

1. Tharindu Gamage

2. Chandima Gooneratne

3. Andrew Choksy

Sl-N Cars up to 1000cc

1. Dhammika Peiris

2. Rohan de Silva

3. Tharindu Lokuge

McLarens Alto K10 one make cars

1. Praveed Madugalle

2. Yanik Lawrence

3. Viren Boteju

One make Ford Laser up to 1300cc

1. Susantha Gunewardene

2. Romesh Goonewardene

3. Prasanne de Alwis

Motor Cycles Group O

1. Prasad Ranaweera

2. S.D. Threema Dharshana

3. Himaru Hettiarachchi

Motor Cycles Group O Standard up to 126cc

1. Chathura Madhusanka

2. Chamara Weerasinghe

3. R.A.R. Kumara

Motor Cycles Group up to 125cc 4 stroke

1. Jaden Goonewardene

2. Aaron Goonewardene

3. Chathura Madhusanka

Motor Cycles Group up to 125cc 4 Stroke (Forces event)

1. H.P.K. Dharshana

2. Sunaanda Niroshana

3. Dilan Ratnayake

Motor Cycles Group ‘SM’ Super Motard up to 250cc

1. D. Uhan Rajith Silva

2. Udesh Wedisinghe

3. Ushan Perera

One make Mini 7 1000cc

1. Ravikumar Thanesh

2. Dilan Perera

3. Namal Silva

SL-H Cars up to1600cc

1. Dilan Seneviratne

2. Pasindu Peiris

3. Dinesh Jayawardene

Ford Laser/Mazda up to 1500cc

1. Irfan Fuard

2. Chaminda Weerasooriya

2. Susantha Gunewardene

Motor Cycles Group O Standard up to 250cc

1. Ned Daniel

2. Sheron Fernando

3. Maduranga Cadera

Motor Cycles Group ‘R’ Racing and Modified up to 125cc

1. Prabath Peiris, 2. Udesh Chathuranga, 3. Tyronne Adrian

Motor Cycles Group ‘SM’ Super Motard up to 450cc

1. Ushan Perera

2. Indika Jayasuriya

3. Udesh Wedisinghe

SL-H Cars up to 1500cc

1. Sajaad Zuhair

2. Rizvi Farook

3. Rohan de Silva

Formula McLarens 1300cc Race 2

1. Clemente Senaratne

2. Zakir Wahab

3. Chandima Guneratne

SL-GT up to 3500cc

1. Dinesh Deheragoda

2. Pasindu Peiris

3. Darin Weerasinghe

Ford Formula 1600cc Post 85

1. Ashan Silva

2. Dinesh Jayawardene

3. Shafraz Junaid

Ford Formula 1600cc Pre 85

1. S.A. Harsha

2. Kaushal Samarasinghe

3. Waruna Ranatunga