Indika Sanjaya and his co-driver Naveen Marapana are top winners

Pix and text by Shanuka Aravinda in Nuwara Eliya

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Indika Sanjaya and his co-driver Naveen Marapana became top winners when they went on to win the Extreme Class with 282 points at the Nuwara Eliya 4×4 Challenge held in a man-made course by the Gregory Lake in Nuwara Eliya. Sanjaya and Marapana finished with minus 18 points in the Extreme Class which consisted of three stages from a total of 300 points. The wining duo finished with minus one point each in the second and third stages but they had a tough battle in the first stage, where they received minus 16 points.

The second place of the Extreme Class was claimed by Damith Nissanka and Charith Madhusanka, who completed with 268 points after losing 4, 17 and 11 points each from the three respective stages. Shihara Thilina and Thusitha Srikumar finished at third with a final score of 251 points. They completed losing 16, 17 and 16 points in the three stages thus losing a total of 49 points overall.
Palitha Koswatte and his co-driver Muditha Dehigolla took 2 minutes and 45 seconds to finish the course and thus win the Standard Modified Class ahead of Suminda Liyanage and Pathum Indika, who finished at second.

The Standard Class Men’s Race was won by Chamod Shanilka and his co-driver Pasan Madura who took 3 minutes and 32 seconds to finish the course. The Women’s Race of the Standard Class won by Srimali Wijeratne and her co-driver Hasni Ratnayake. They clocked 4 minutes and 29 seconds. Extreme Class winning driver Indika Sanjaya acted as co-driver for Ishara Anurangi in this segment who finished at third behind J. Kolambatantri and Nafliya Ishraq. Over 50 drivers participated in the 4×4 Challenge, which was organised and conducted by the Nuwara Eliya 4×4 Sports Club in association with the Nuwara Eliya Municipal Council. A large gathering of spectators were seen engaged in the day-long event, which brought excitement and thrill.

Results

Extreme Class: 1. Indika Sanjaya and Naveen Marapana (282), 2. Damith Nissanka and Charith Madhusanka (268), 3. Shihara Thilina and Thusitha Srikumar (251).
Standard Modified Class: 1. Palitha Koswatte and Muditha Dehigolla (2:45.28), 2. Suminda Liyanage and Pathum Indika (2:48.04), 3. Isuru Arambawela and Piyal Sandakelum (2:48.29).
Standard Class:
Men: 1. Chamod Shanilka and Pasan Madura (3:32.53), 2. Priyan Perera and M. Sanehiarachchi (3:37.38), 3. L.C. Liyanage and Janaka Hettiarachchi (3:57.62).
Women: 1. Srimali Wijeratne and Hasni Ratnayake (4:29.06), 2. J. Kolambatantri and Nafliya Ishraq (5:09.39), 3. Ishara Anurangi and Indika Sanjaya (5:55.25).