Pasindu,
Rohith thumbs up at Pannala
M. Shamil Amit reporting from
Pannala
Young Pasindu Peiris of motorcross fame stole the show at the AMRC
speed 2005 race which was held at the Pannala International Racing
track yesterday.
Pasindu
driving his first ever motor car event which was for Novices drove
his Mazda 323 to a comfortable win over Chamil Perera. Lying second
in place at the start of the six lap event and being led by Chamil
and Shanil Ruwanwella he took the lead at the fourth lap and maintained
it till the end of the race.
The
races began sharp at 2.00 p.m. with the two events being run concurrently-the
Mini 1000cc and the Nissan March 1000cc run over 12 laps. The Mini
event was easily won by Dilshan Bandaranayake while the Nissan March
went to experienced campaigner Shantha Suraweera.
The
next event for Ford/Laser/Mazda 1500cc competed by over ten drivers
went to Chaminda Weerasuriya from Dilshard Hamdoon. The SLN 10-12
kg/hp and over 12kg/hp events also run concurrently were won by
Sajaad Zuhair and Maj. Harsha Wijetunge respectively.
Rohith
de Silva in his Mini Petco recorded a thrilling win in the 12 lap
SLA Cars upto 1050cc which went to the wire. Rohitha having taken
the initial lead from the start was overtaken midway in the race
but fought his way to pip Anil Jayakody at the finish. S.A. Duminda
took the SLA Cars 1050-1400 cc event from experience driver Rameez
Mahmoor.
The
two Formula Ford events one of the much looked forward to events
for the day run concurrently was a thriller which kept the crowd
on their toes. With top drivers like Rohan de Silva who has the
honour of having run the 1.67km race track in less than a minute,
Romani de Silva, Dinesh Jayawardena, Rizvi Farook in the post 85
and Ravi Mayadunne, S.A. Harsha and lady driver Shehara de Silva
in the pre85 was definitely going to be a thriller.
In
a ding-dong battle of the post 85 event Romani de Silva got the
better of Dinesh Jayawardena while Ravi Mayadunne who was back in
the track after a lapse of nearly one year took the pre 85 event
from lady driver Shehara de Silva.
Meanwhile
Dinesh Jayawardena who was pushed to second place in the previous
race made amends when he took the FIA N Cars 1600 event with ease,
winning the race by a considerable lead from Nadeera Jinasena. Janaka
Dias took the SLN Cars 8-10kg/hp event from Siddi Farook.
Veteran
Rohan de Silva who was not successful in the Formula event, though
winning the SLS Cars upto 1600 event had to fight for the win with
second placed Siddi Farook in his locally assembled Westfield taking
the lead at the halfway stage before being beaten by Rohan.
The
much looked forward for the day which was the two Super car events
ran concurrently. Though ace driver Aravinda Premadasa was missing
there was a host of top drivers of the calibre of Dilantha Malagamuwa
who is based in Japan coming down specially to participate in this
event, Reyaz Farook, Rizvi Farook and Carmen Thenuwara in the SA
!600-3500cc event and Dinesh Deheragoda along with other top drivers
in the FIA-N Cars 1600-3500cc event.
Malagamuwa
succeeded in winning his event and was the only competitor to complete
it while Deheragoda in his new Mitsubishi Evolution IX had no one
to challenge him winning his event with the minimum of fuss.
Hats
off to Asian Motor Racing Club the newest club, for a well conducted
motor racing event. As told the meet started and concluded at the
scheduled time. This is a example which the other organizers should
take note of. Everything done there was done in a professional way
leaving no room for anyone to complain. Well done keep it up AMRC.
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