Cavalry Supercross to be flagged off on June 12
The races will feature Sri Lanka's top drivers and riders - File pic
Over 200 drivers and riders including several riders from India will compete when the 2016 edition of the Cavalry Supercross, one of the most anticipated events in Sri Lanka’s motor racing calendar flag off on June 12 at the Cavalry Supercross race track in Pangolla, Kurunegala.
The Supercross is organized by the Sri Lanka Armoured Corps (SLAC) in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Association of Racing Drivers and Riders (SLARDAR). The event will be the first of four races in the CEAT Sri Lanka Super Series 2016 and will feature the islands finest drivers and riders in action.
After the Cavalry Supercross, the CEAT Sri Lanka Super Series 2016 will conduct the Pannala Circuit Meet on July 31, Commando Challenge on October 9 and 10, Pannala Circuit Meet November 13th before declaring overall winners across various categories.
The Cavalry Supercross was conceptualised by Brigadier Indunil Ranasinghe and was inaugurated in 2010 and is primarily a fund raising project with a focus on providing improvements to welfare facilities that are made available for the immediate families of Officers and men killed or maimed in battle. Furthermore, it is expected to assist in developing necessary infrastructure within the camps such as housing for serving officers and men, working environments, recreational facilities medical, billets and dining facilities. Looking forward, the Cavalry Supercross is expected to be an event that will be a source of sustainable income to feed such welfare projects within the Corps.
Addressing the media briefing presided over by Major General Milinda Peiris, Chief of Staff of the Army and Colonel Commandant of Sri Lanka Armoured Corps, Brigadier Indunil Ranasinghe – Chairman of the Organising Committee stated, they are thrilled to have the Cavalry Supercross back again. The specially-designed track, which gives consideration to the surrounding environment, will push the drivers and riders to their limits and is guaranteed to thrill the thousands that are expected to witness the races. It will also serve to showcase the talents of our drivers and riders, providing them with the ideal platform to hone their skills in preparation for future local and international races.
Since inception, the Cavalry Supercross has always attracted the cream of the Lankan drivers and riders. At the inaugural event held in 2010, Pasindu Peiris and Gayan Sandaruwan became the Best Driver and Best Rider respectively. Since then, Gayan Sandaruwan has twice won. the Best Rider award (2012 and 2013) while Japanese rider Tomoya Suzuki won the award in 2012. In the Best Driver category, Ashan Silva has twice won the award (2012 and 2013) with Dinesh Deheragoda bagging the award in 2011. At the last Cavalry Supercross held in 2014, Shehan C Adikari won Best Rider and Ashan Silva was nominated as the Best Driver. This year too, the Best Driver and the Best Rider will be awarded Sri Lanka Armoured Corps Colonel Commandants Challenge Trophy and Sonna Vander Hoeven Memorial Challenge Trophy respectively.
In keeping with the objectives of this project, Sri Lanka Armoured Corps has to date been able to construct 18 houses for its deceased, disabled and serving members. Construction of three Holiday Bungalows, funding welfare projects of Training Centre and all Regiments for the benefit of troops, purchasing of medical and other essential items for needy members, contributions to Armys Brave Heart and ViruDaru projects and infrastructure developments within the Corps could. be named as significant benefits/charities of Cavalry Supercross during the last five years.