In spite of a bump here and there on his road to achieving what he wanted in the arena of motor racing in Sri Lanka, Dilan Seneviratne’s (27 years) passion and fascination with speed has helped him achieve great height in the sport, with his first race being at Pannala in 2005.
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| Dilan Seneviratne |
“From the time I can remember I have been into cars and into speed,” he explains adding that this was what drove him to take his fascination with speed and cars to the next level. In fact, between 2005 and 2009 he has participated in 31 races of which he has 24 podiums (12 wins, 9 second places and 3 third places) respectively. The events he has participated include the 8-10kg/hp, 10-12kg/hp, SLH up to 1600cc, SLA up to1600cc, Nissan March one make and Formula Ford.
“I have been running through sponsors and am thankful to McFoil and Mobil,” he says explaining that after having raced in his Honda he has not really had a personal car to race in. And now he has moved on to racing in a Formula Ford where Sri Lanka currently has around 10 to 15 people racing in this category due to the lack of facilities.
Dilan first won in the Formula Ford Event, at Mahagastota in April this year. “I won the Formula Ford Event amongst some of the best drivers who have been around for many years,” he says, adding this was his second Hill Climb in a Formula and that he is among the youngest racing in this category.
“It is a much more challenging category to race in and it is possibly the next step towards international racing,” he says adding that the chances are slim still, due to the lack of sponsors. He also sees that there isn’t a great interest in this category of racing, in the general public and that currently; there is only one racing event annually for this category, which is the Mahagastota Hill Climb.
Dilan has had the chance to race outside Sri Lanka, in neighbouring, India and says he learnt a lot while he raced in the Formula LGB. “That experience and atmosphere helped me come a long way in driving the Formula Ford,” he said adding, “In India the tracks are much faster and more challenging than those in Sri Lanka.”
“I saw that there was much more interest in this form of racing in India, which I feel is due to aspiring racers starting at a younger age,” says Dilan.
“It was one of the most exciting moments in my life to have beaten him and to have come first place,” says Dilan who raced side by side with Rohan de Silva at the Mahagastota Hill Climb in the Formula Ford Event.
Dilan considers Mr. de Silva as one the greatest Formula Ford drivers in the country adding, “I am here because of the tremendous support and advice he has given me, with regard to racing.” He adds that it was an honour to have raced side by side with him and to have won!
“You can start with karting at a really young age,” Dilan says, and goes on to explain, “That way when you reach the age of 15 or 16 you are fit enough to drive a proper Formula.” As to where he drew his interest for racing Formula Fords he said, it all came from watching the sport and from his icon Ayrton Senna of Brazilian origin and a three time Formula One World Champion.
Pix by M. A. Pushpa Kumara |
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