Motorsports: Rumbling Wonder of Digamadulla hosts Rally Sri Lanka 2016

A total of 24 cars will compete at Rally Sri Lanka 2016, a speed rally organised by the Southern Motor Sports Club (SMSC) under the tagline of 'Rumbling Wonder of Digamadulla', from August 4 to 7. 

The race will see a total of 48 well reputed rally drivers and co-drivers made up of 46 Lankans and 2 foreigners -- a Malaysian and a New Zealander. 

The 4-day event will be held in Hingurana, in the Ampara district, amidst the Gal-oya Plantations, on a purpose-built gravel course. 

To ensure a rally of a high standard, the SMSC will team up with Sri Lanka Automobile Sports (SLAS) to give the event the required strength and leverage. 

The event is to be held under three tiers. 

According to the SMSC, this year’s event will be a skeleton or an apprentice, with aims of conducting the next event as a candidate rally, which will be conducted under the auspices of the FIA. 

"If successful, the final or the third tier would be a leg of FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship, adding to the existing legs conducted in Malaysia, China, Japan, New Zealand, Australia and India. This is our aim," opined Clerk of the Course, Andrew Silva. 

"This is a Special Stage Rally which will run on roads closed to the public for four days, inside the Hingurana Plantations. The rally will run to International Standards following the FIA World Rally Championship Rules," he added. 

The centre of the event’s activities would be at H.M. Weerasinghe ground in Ampara, while the Rally Headquarters will be at the neighbouring Ampara Urban Council building. 

The ceremonial start will take place at the same venue, where the competitors will be introduced on the ramp with their vehicles, at a grand musical show. 

"The technical part of the rally will commence with a Reconnaissance Run on the first day, Thursday, August 4, followed by a shakedown or testing round on Friday at the location itself at around 6 pm. The actual running of the event would be on Saturday and Sunday from 7 am to 5 pm," Silva explained. 

On each race day, the rally will be conducted in 9 special stages in one direction. 

Vehicle categories will include the Group SL-E Entry Level Cars (one-make Nissan March K11 1000 cc); Group SL-N Production Cars (Ford Laser / Mazda 323 up to 1500 cc), Group SL-S (Cars Up to 1618 cc, Subaru Legacy up to 2000 cc); Group SL-GT Grand Touring Cars (cars up to 3500 cc), Group T&J (Jeep Open) and in teams. 

"Competitors will run against the clock and the fastest in all stages will be the winner. Winners of different vehicle categories from 1st to 3rd places and the overall winners, including the first to five top finishers will be awarded trophies. The prize distribution will take place around 5 pm on Sunday at the H.M. Weerasinghe ground, which will officially end the event," he elaborated. 
The event was has received sponsorship from Gal-Oya Plantations, Maxxis Tyres, Ministry of Sports, Mobil Oil, CIC Agro, Liqui Moly, Iron Man and Red Bull. According to Mr Silva, the SMSC is working closely with the District Secretary of Ampara and all government officers, the Ampara Chamber of Commerce & Industries, the Armed Forces, the Police and the Ampara Traders Association to make this event a success. 

Drivers and Teams: 

1. Reyaz Farook (SL) and Riyaz Sangani (SL) - Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX 

2. Dinesh Deheragoda (SL) and Lasitha Rajapaksa (SL) - Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X (Yasith Rally) 

3. Shafraz Junaid (SL) and Sean Gregory (MAS) - Subaru STI (Team Ezy) 

4. Ishraq Wahab (SL) and Zakir Wahab (SL) - Subaru Impreza (Bullion Exchange Racing) 

5. Ushan Perera (SL) and Akry Ameer (SL) - Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX RS (Team Big Foot) 

6. Missaka Naveen (SL) and Irfan Fuard (SL) - Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX RS 

7. Sajaard Zuhair (SL) and Malcom Read (NZ) - Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX (Team Ezy) 

8. Janaka Dias (SL) and Musthaq Ahmed (SL) - Subaru STI 

9. Faham Newman (SL) and Kamil Hussain (SL) - Honda Eg6 (Fazaal Ceramic) 

10. Javidh Wahab (SL) and Andrew Chocksy (SL) - Mitsubishi Pajero Evo (Bullion Exchange Racing) 

11. Samin Attanayake (SL) and Rahal Uluvita (SL) - Toyota Hilux (Team Big Foot) 

12. Duminda Jayasinghe (SL) and Lasantha Dissanayake (SL) - Toyota Landa Cruiser (SL Army) 

13. Sam Samarasinghe (SL) and Dhanushka Suraweera (SL) - Toyota Hilux LN 107 

14: Indu Samarakoon (SL) and Lakmal Fernando (SL) - Mitsubishi Pajaro (SL Army) 

15: Buddhi Gunasekara (SL) and Kumudika Gunasekara (SL) - Toyota Hilux 

16: Ashanthi Liyanage (SL) and Hasitha Vidarshana Dias (SL) - Toyota Land Cruiser (Team Emsol) 

17: Yakub Ariff (SL) and Bashry Hilmy (SL) - Suzuki Grand Vitara 

18: Kushan Peiris (SL) and Harith Kariyawansa (SL) - Mazda Familia 

19: Irshard Faham (SL) and Mohamed Fazeel (SL) - Nissan March (Fazaal Ceramic) 

20: Yasith Gamage (SL) and Akila Kamalendra (SL) - Nissan March (Yasith Rally)    

21: Gayan Ranatunga (SL) and Murali Kanakasabae (SL) - Nissan March 

22: Deepthi Perera (SL) and Bhathiya Amarasinghe (SL) - Ford Laser 

23: Thahir Ali (SL) and Mohammed Saajid (SL) - Ford Laser 

24: Aravinda Pathiranage (SL) and Nath Dharmasenaa (SL) - Mitsubishi Lancer (Team Emsol)