Riders revv for the mid-country
All arrangements have been fine-tuned to stage the 8th annual Gunner Supercorss 2013, hosted by the Regiment of Artillery, will be held at the Artillery Complex in Minneriya on August 4. Sri Lanka’s top drivers and riders who are in contention for the prestigious championship will be featured in a total of 22 events for cars, motorbikes and jeeps.
The event will be totally handled by the newly formed Sri Lanka Autosports Drivers Association or SLADA, headed by the dynamic 1000cc Mini Car expert, Yoga Perera. Perera was optimistic that the most sought after motor racing event in Sri Lanka will feature all the top drivers and riders besides the Indian competitors.
“As at the moment we have already received closer to 200 entries and we have decided to keep the doors open for competitors until July 25. We will accept entries up till then expecting a highly competitive race day,” Perera stated at a press conference held last week in Colombo.
The organisers and sponsors at the launch at Hotel Taj Samudra. - Pic by Amila Gamage
The Gunner Supercross, the most faultless motor sport event in Sri Lanka as the organisers assert, was first introduced in 2004 by the then Colonel Commandant of the Regiment of Artillery, Major General S.D. Tennakoon. After seven flawless editions the organisers have done a few additions to make the lives of the spectators more comfortable.
“The event which started in 2004 with a total of 10 events has grown to become a fully-fledged event by now. This year we will conduct the races on a uniquely constructed gravel track where we can expect the thrills and fills of motor sports. In addition the Gunner Supercross will make history as the only sport besides cricket to feature a fully-fledged and air-conditioned media enclosure,” Major General Jagath Rambukpotha, the Colonel Commandant of the Regiment of Artillery said.
The Minneriya track also boasts to be the only facility in Sri Lanka to have two permanently placed grand pavilions. In addition to both pavilions the area around the track has the ability to hold a spectator capacity of closer to 20,000, which will give residents in the area of Minneriya, Thamankaduwa and Polonnaruwa the easy access to witness a classy motor racing event.
As in the past seven editions the funds collected by this year’s races will be utilized as financial resources required to uplift the standard of welfare of those who have made the supreme sacrifice and endure injuries in the battlefield, their families, the serving soldiers of the Regiment of Artillery and soldiers departed due to other causes attributable to military service, after the three-decade long war. – NA
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