Viren and Sangeeth fastest at 30th edition of Southern Eliyakanda Hill Climb

Viren Botheju who established the fastest time at the 30th Eliyakanda Hill Climb receiving his trophy from the Mayor of Matara Attorney at Law Jayantha Pathirana

Rajith Uluwita competing in the formula cars event

Prageeth Pravinda on his way to win the SLH Cars up to 1618cc (One make – Honda 3 door Hatch back Cars only)event

The 540 meter Eliyakanda track is a test for both the competitor and machine

Text and pix by P.D. De Silva

Viren  Botheju driving a Mitsubishi Evo 9 clocked 33.700 seconds and Sangeeth Suriyage riding a Yamaha YZ450F clocked 36.270 seconds to be the fastest driver and rider at the 30th edition of the Southern Eliyakanda Hill Climb on Sunday. 

 Viren’s timing of 33.700 seconds was the fastest of the day as well.

 The weather gods played spoilsport to the disappointment of the competitors as they were restricted to a single run and were unable to achieve their best. The record for the 540 meter Eliyakanda track is held by Ashan Silva who in 2021 established  a time of 31.260 seconds   while  this year›s winner Sangeeth Suriyage holds the record  for the fastest rider with a time of  33.439 seconds set in 2023.

 Fourteen Motorcar events and 16 Motorcycle events were worked off at this year’s event with the participation of 55 drivers and 147 riders  

 The Southern Eliyakanda Hill Climb is the flagship event of the Southern Motor Sports Club and has been held continuously since the year the club was formed.

 MOTOR CAR EVENTS

 Event 1 SLN Ford Laser / Mazda 323 up to 1500 cc - BD, BE, BF Hatchbacks & Sedans

1 Rajith Uluwita Ford Laser 41.710

2 Minura Pinidiya Mazda BF 42.690

 3M. Dheshram Ford Laser 44.940

 Event 2 SLN Ford Laser / Mazda 323 up to 1300 cc - BD, BE, BF Hatchbacks & Sedans

1 Thenuka Liyanarachchi Mazda Familia 41.870

2 Nishan Dunuwila Ford Laser 41.870

3 Chamath Palliyaguru Ford Laser 41.970

 Event 3 Formula Cars Modified (Up to 1665 cc)

1 Viren Botejue Formula 1300cc 38.020

2 Nigel Perera Formula 1300 40.100

3 Rajith Uluwita Formula 1300cc 43.120

 Event 4 Formula McLarens 1300cc EFI

1 Chandima Gooneratne Formula F1300 37.100

2 Pansilu Abeywickrama Formula 1300cc 38.260

3 S. T. Samarasinghe Formula Formula 38.850

 Event 5 Formula Cars 1300cc Carburetor

1 Sameera de Silva Formula McLarens 42.200

2 M. G. Dilip Formula McLaren 50.410

 Event 6 SLA up to 1050cc

1 Praveen Madugalle Austin Mini 39.830

2 Amir Faraji Nissan March 40.190

3 Chamika Ranatunga Nissan March 40.290

 Event 7 SLX 650CC

1 Kalim Iqbal Syren RCX 38.490

2 Nadeera Jinasena Syren RCX 40.680

3 Emdad Hussain Syren RCX 43.420

 Event 8 SLH Cars up to 1618cc (One make – Honda 3 door Hatchback Cars only)

1 Prageeth Pravinda Honda EG4 VTec 37.910

2 Nigel Perera Honda EK2 38.500

3 Thushan Madusanka Honda EG 3 39.270

 Event 9 SLH Subaru Legacy cars up to 2000cc

1Shiran Dool Subaru BC5 38.130

2 Nigel Perera Subaru Legacy 39.680

3 Krishan Senaratna Subaru Legacy 44.950

 Event 10 SLH Mini up to 1275 – One Make

1 Havindu Silva Austin Mini 42.430

2 Tharun Perera Austin Mini 42.700

3 Gaindu Aberathna Morris Minor 43.540

 Event 11 SLH Nissan March 1300 CC - One Make (5 Door Cars Allowed)

1 S K Kisal Nissan March HK11 41.920

2 Suren Cooray Nissan March HK11 41.940

3 Dilupa Palliyaguru Nissan March 42.420

 Event 12 SLGT Up to 3500 cc

1Viren Botejue Mitsubishi Evo 9 33.700

2 Darin Weerasinghe Toyota GR Yaris 36.120

3 Dasaraj Dahanayake Mitsubishi Evolution 36.410

 Event 13 SLE Cars up to 1000CC – one make Nissan March (Entry Level)

1esh Cooray Nissan March 41.430

2  Ranga Perera Nissan March 43.490

3 Krishan Jayasekara Nissan K11 43.720

 Event 14 SLS Cars up to 1500CC

1 Dulanjana Perera Honda EG6 39.160

2 Chamika Ranatunga Nissan Micra 43.620

3 Roshitha Aluthwala Suzuki Swift 46.630

 MOTORCYCLE EVENTS

 Event 15 Classic Standard Motorcycle 250cc

1 Ragunathan Keshev Honda CRM 43.000

2 M. G. Sarath Kumarasinghe Honda CRM 44.040

3 Shavindu Shenal Honda CRM250 44.500

 Event 16 O - Standard motorcycles over 100cc upto 160cc 4T Mono Cylinder

1 Dinusha Perera Honda CBR 150 42.900

2 Vinod Madumal Honda CBR 43.530  

3 Hansika Madubashini Honda CBR 47.650

 Event 17 M - Sports Touring Motorcycles 700cc 4T

1 Vinula Pathirage Triumph 39.370

2 Kevin Liyanage Triumph 765RS 41.260

3 Tharindu Dinendra Kawasaki ER400 42.260

 Event 18 M - Sports Touring Motorcycle over 700cc upto 1400cc

1 Sasindu Prashansana Triumph 37.950

2 Supun Suraj Yamaha MT09 SP 41.510

3 P. D. Akila Udayangana KTM Superduke 43.450

 Event 19 M - Standard Modified Motorcycles over 100cc upto 125cc (Air Cool) 4T

1 W.M.Gihan Sanjeewa Honda JX 125 44.770  

2  J. M. Manjula Jayasundara Honda JX 45.510  

3 Sanjeewa Udayakumara Honda JX 125 46.160

 Event 20 M - Standard Modified Motorcycles over 100cc upto 125cc 2T

1 W.M.Gihan Sanjeewa Yamaha TZR 42.060

2 Shashika Chamodya Yamaha TZR 42.480

3 T. A. Rusith Shamika Yamaha TZR 43.800

 Event 21 M - Standard Modified Motorcycles over 175CC upto 200cc 4T

1 M. G. Sarath Kumarasinghe TVS 41.950

2 Ragunathan Keshev TVS Apache RTR 42.210

3 D Sadeepa Munasinghe TVS 46.420

 Event 22 M - Standard Modified Motorcycles over 175cc upto 250cc 4T Supersports

1 Nipun Dilanka Honda CBR 250 37.180

2 Nikila Pathirage Honda CBR 250 37.280

3 Janaka Dinesh Honda CBR 250 38.500

 Event 23 M - Standard Modified Motorcycles over 400cc upto 600cc 4T Supersports

1 Vinula Pathirage Honda CBR 600 36.410

2 Nipun Dilanka Honda CBR 600 38.900

3 Lahiru Randeep Hansa Honda CBR600 39.440

 Event 24 M - Standard Modified Motorcycles over 900cc upto 1000cc 4T Supersports

1 Sasindu Prashansana Suzuki GSXR1000 36.390

2  Vinula Pathirage Honda CBR 1000 37.700

3  Jeff Chi Yamaha YZF R1 38.590

 Event 25 M - Standard Modified Street Trail 125cc 2T & 4T

1 Sanjeewa Kahagalla Kawasaki KDX 44.910

2  Sudesh Jayalath Husqvarna WRE 46.740

3  Hashan Bagya Yamaha DT 47.690

 Event 26 M - Standard Modified Street Trail Motorcycles over 175cc upto 250cc 2T and 4T

1 M. G. Sarath Kumarasinghe Yamaha WR 38.480  

2 Maheel Pavithra Kawasaki Klx 41.930   

3 Yesith Bimsara Mayadunna Yamaha Serow 250 48.950

 Event 27 M - Standard Motorcycle One Make 160CC Yamaha FZ

 1G.Nadeesh Dhanushka Yamaha FZ S V2 42.310  

2  W. H. Dilan Rathnayaka Yamaha FZ 44.550  

3 W.M.Gihan Sanjeewa Yamaha FZ 150 47.950

 Event 28 SM - SuperMotard Motorcycles over 175cc upto 250cc 4T

1 Isuru Maduranga Yamaha YZF 37.490  

2 Shashika Chamodya Honda CRF 38.660  

3 Buddika Dinesh Yamaha YZF 39.250

 Event 29 SM - SuperMotard motorcycles over 250cc Open

1 Sangeeth Suriyage Yamaha YZ450F 36.270

2 Buddhika Dinesh Honda CRF450R 38.780  

3 H.G.W. Bhanuka Suranjan Lakmal Yamaha YZ 450F 41.430

 Event 30 SM - Supermotard One Make 250cc 4T - KAWASAKI Tracker

1Maheel Pavithra Kawasaki Tracker 37.860

2 Imesh Pathum Kawasaki Tracker 38.780

3 Ravindu Sankalpa Jayasundara Kawasaki KLX 39.330