Southern Rally expected to be a blockbuster
View(s):The Southern Rally 2014, well known as the journey through the wilderness of the South will once again hit the roads of Matara on November 1 and 2 covering a distance of over 500 kilometres. The rally, which includes two separate stages will rev off on November 1 at dusk from Matara town and come to a close during dawn hours of November 2 the same vicinity it took off.
This will be the 16th time, speed and distance (TSD) national rally organised by the Southern Motor Sports Club (SMSC) since its inception in 1997. This grand motor sports episode would be running throughout all three districts covering Matara, Hambantota and Monaragala promising on aura of excitement combined with the spills and thrills of southern terrains similar to the all 16 previous motor rallies that bequeath with roaring successes. It is sure to be an enthralling experience of the motor sports loving spectators of the South who are in thirst of eminence for motor sports events.
This year’s rally will take place when the rest of Sri Lanka is fast asleep with over 500 kilometres of gravel and hard terrain covered. The route of the rally is plotted under the guidance of Sri Lanka’s rally guru, Andrew Silva for the 16th successive year. The rally is broken down into two stages from Matara to Morawaka and from Morawaka to Matara, promising a virtuous drive for all the competitors.
The Southern Rally is considered as the most challenging annual TSD rally in Sri Lanka by most of the motor rally sportsmen in the country. Also this motoring event has been acknowledged by the competitors as one of the best organised events of the country.
Over 40 entries were received by the organisers at the previous meet, including those of the well-known motor rally drivers in the country and this year the numbers are expected to exceed. SMSC had expectations of awarding an array of trophies to the winners of the individuals and those of the whole event as well. The awards too are proportionate and have over 75 trophies on offer, which includes for top three stage and overall rally finishers as well as category prizes in novices, professional, cars and overall prizes for the top ten places.
The ceremonial start will take place at the ramp opposite the Sanath Jayasuriya stadium in Matara at 7.00pm November 1. The prize distribution ceremony will be held on November 2 at the Rest House premises in Matara at around 10.00am after the final competitors reaches the ramp.
This year’s principal sponsor for the Southern Night Rally will be Diesel and Motor Engineering, better known as Dimo, the authorised distributor for JEEP in Sri Lanka. Co-sponsor for the event will be Laugfs Lubricants.