Jeep conquers the wilderness of the South
View(s):Jeep Wrangler Southern Night Rally 2014, tagged as the “Journey through the Wilderness of the South”, organised by the Southern Motor Sports Club took place recently at Matara. Thirty one competitors took part a this event which was flagged off opposite the Matara Clock Tower recently.
Participants and their vehicles.
The first stage covered 204 kilometers and started from Matara and ran through Bandaththara, Diyagaha, Aparekka, Kirinda, Hakmana, Deiyandara, Makandura, Mulatiyana, Akuressa, Bangama, Pitabeddara, Siyabalagoda and ended at Morawaka.
The second stage covered a distance of 224 kilometres and started from Morawaka and passed through Beralapanathara, Deniyaya, Hayes Hill, Buthkanda, Kolonne, Panamure, Udawalawa, Sevanagala, Padanangala, Embilipitiya, Middeniya, Julampituya, Walasmulla, Hakmana, Yatiyana, Kekanadura and ended at Matara.
Driver Nalin Premaratna and Co-driver Lasitha Rajapakshe from Team Jeep Cherokee won the Jeep Wrangler Southern Night Rally 2014, while driver Aloka de Silva and Co-driver Meesha Gunawardana from Team Jeep Wrangler came in second, and Sam Chandrasoma and S.K. Methunshanka from Team Iron man were placed third.
The first stage was won jointly by driver Shafraz Junaid and co-driver Shafraz Hamzudeen driving a Nissan D21, and driver Aloka de Silva and co-driver Meesha Gunawardana from Team Jeep Wrangler who collected 158 debits each. The second stage was won by driver Nalin Premaratna and co-driver Lasitha Rajapakshe from Team Jeep Cherokee.
The overall winner Nalin Premarathne from Team Jeep Cherokee said his 10-year old Grand Cherokee proved that it was second to none amongst the heavily modified competitors. This was the toughest rally and the jeep handled the harshest terrain at high speeds brilliantly proving the capabilities of the legend, he added.