Motor Racing: Indika, Isuru victorious at Nuwara Eliya 4x4 Lake Cross

The Nuwara Eliya 4x4 Lake Cross organized by the Four Wheel Drive Club (FWDC) in association with Nuwara Eliya Motor Racing Club (NEMRC) was worked off at the dual purpose NEM track which could host motor cross events as well as 4x4 events that was part of the Nuwara Eliya season sports festival events.   Specialist in events of this nature Indika Sanjaya and co-driver Isuru Suranga dazzled in the muddy and soggy conditions to come on top with a timing of 22.30 seconds from the 15 teams that participated.   This was the first leg of the FWDC 4x4 Championship with the grand finale scheduled to be held at the Sappers 4x4 track of the School of Army Engineering track at Tinkama, Embilipitiya in September this year.   The 4x4 event in Nuwara Eliya was held after a lapse of four years with the last being in 2010 due to the intervention of sports minister Naveen Dissanayake.   The organisers cut short the event to four special stages (SS) foreseeing the weather pattern that prevailed, ensuring that all participants finish their stages in daylight and in the process setting a fair competition for all participants.   The event restricted to Extreme Class 4x4 vehicles saw the participation of 15 teams.   The SS1 of the four that were held was the toughest where only a few teams came to terms with the distinct Nuwara Eliya mud.   Team 105 comprising of Indika and Isuru were the first to figure their way out to the finish line followed by team 106, 147, 140 and 162.   The overall second place was taken by Ranga Ahangama and co-driver Sajith Jeewanth with a timing of 29.21 seconds while J.A.N. Vajira Kumara and co-driver Sampath Ranasinghe was way back in third with a timing of 49.48 seconds.