Motorsport: EZY Racing contracts cricketer Sachith Pathirana

EZY Racing announced a major shakeup in their Sri Lankan race driver lineup when they infused young talent by contracting the multi-talented racer and cricketer, Sachith Pathirana, as part of EZY Racing’s Young Driver Programme.

Pathirana, an allrounder representing Sri Lanka in ODIs and T20Is, has an impressive streak of podium placements across many races and will now join the racing team that fuels ‘Passion and Guts’ to further establish his motor racing credentials in the country. 

The Champion Race Team who created history by winning the FIA Asia Pacific Production Cup, in the Asia Pacific Rally Championship by infusing young talent with 22-year-old Mike Young decided on a similar approach in their local racing lineup after Raceing Stalwart Dilan Seneviratne who performed a yeoman service to the race team driving the SLGT class over a three-year contract, was given a sabbatical for personal reasons. 

EZY Racing who have since 2012 contracted only two drivers to their lineup to compete in the most glamorous motor racing classes in the country,  are scheduled to announce a third driver for the first time in three years as a part of their newly revamped strategy of having a better balance between youth and experience. 

“We take great pride in saying that we have been home for the best of the best drivers Sri Lanka has ever produced. The strength of the brand EZY Racing is well demonstrated when we talk of drivers who we have had for the last 5 years since our inception. Dinesh Deheragoda, Pasindu Peiris, Rizvi Farouk, Shafraz Junaid, Dilan Seneviratne and Sajaad Zuhair are all National Champions. After our change in strategy in the International Arena, we decided that it was time we created a platform for youngsters to further develop themselves. Therefore we activated the Young Driver Programme which will see two young drivers being entitled to an opportunity to elevate their motor racing ranks,” said the CEO and Founder of the Champion Race Team, Shafraz Hamzadeen.  

“Traditionally, we have only competed in the three fastest racing classes in the country with an experienced driver duo. However, this year we have decided to offer the SLH 1600 class to a youngster. This is a part of the ‘Young Driver Programme’, in which the multiple champion in the SLH 1600 class will mentor the youngster,” he added.

EZY Racing ended 2015 on a high, when their ace racer Sajaad Zuhair was awarded the best driver for classes SLH 1500 and SLH 1600 at multiple award ceremonies covering seven championships. 

He will officially vacate the SLH 1600 class and make his Debut in the SLGT class in the season opener in Katukurunda. 

EZY Racing reintroduced the ‘Young Driver Programme’ after an absence of four years to once again help scale up and train young contenders to become professional racers. 

Skilled young racers such as Sachith Pathirana will be exposed to international talent, trainings and also be inducted into the professional EZY Racing suite. 

This initiative will help build and develop young drivers by providing an opportunity and platform to partner with an international motor racing team.

Pathirana, who by no means is a newcomer to motor racing has been racing suceessfully in the SL-E 1000cc March, a modified 1050 March over the years, with over 17 podium placements. 

Pathirana expects EZY Racing’s professional approach in Motor Racing to further his motor racing credentials.  

“I’m excited to be part of an international racing team that continues to believe in driving and instilling ‘passion’ from the race team to the crew. While EZY Racing continues to challenge us to benchmark and better ourselves, as an ambassador of the brand, I am determined to race to the best of my ability and live up to high expectations. My level of confidence is high as most of the work that I as an individual driver would have had to do is taken care of by a professional racing team. I look forward to taking EZY Racing to greater heights this year.” said Pathirana. 

“Sachith is a great new addition to the team. He provides the perfect balance to the driver lineup with just the right amount of races. Although we in the past have never been inclined to look at having a driver in the 1000CC category, with the launch of the Young Driver Program this has become a reality as that’s where the young blood stems from. We are confident that this relationship will grow stronger and we are hopeful that Sachith would be able to fit into the faster classes as he graduates from the Young Driver Programme,” Hamzadeen went on to say.