The seventh edition of the ‘Walawa Supercross’ will get under way on 17th September (today) at the Sevanagala Craftsman Autodrome Circuit. The Walawa Supercross is organized by Sri Lanka Army Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Regiment and conducted by Sri Lanka Motor Cycle Club. This was disclosed by Col. Commandant of the SLEME Duminda Sirinaga to the media at a media briefing held at the SLEME’s Officers Mess.
He said the proceeds of this event will be utilized for the welfare of the families of the soldiers who gave their lives for the country during the ethnic war and also for soldiers who were disabled due to the war. These funds also will be used for the welfare of the soldiers presently in service to better their lives.
When the idea was mooted seven years ago by the then Head of the Regiment Major General Lalith Wijetunga it received the fullest backing from all high ranking Officers Major Genral Ravi Mayadunne, Lt. Col. Indu Samarakoon and Lt. Col. Duminda Jayasinghe. Under the guidance of the above Officers the construction of the Circuit was carried out by experts on the subject
Sanjeewa de Mel and Indika Gurusinghe completed the circuit in the year 2011 for the first Walawa Supecross. After the first event the circuit has been developed to higher levels, in the past few year it has attracted all leading driver and riders to show their skills on super circuit. Now it has become one of the best as a Supercross circuit.
President of the Sri lanka Motor Cycle Club Ananda Jayasekera addressing the media said that his Club has been able to conduct the Walawa Supercross since its inception in 2011. This year too SLMCC is fully geared to conduct the event on a grand scale with the assistance from the Organizers the SLEME.
The day’s proceedings include 24 (12 Car events 12 Motor Cycle events). He added that this year the Group SL-GT cars up to 3500cc class has received the highest number of entries and expect more drivers to compete in this class. Once the organizers receive entries for this class they will have to run the events as semi-finals and top drivers are to run the final.
Pasindu Peiris last year’s Champion driver addressing the media said that the Walawa circuit is one of the best circuits prepared by Sri Lanka Army to suit the drivers especially for the high speed cars. All leading driver are of the view that this one circuit that they can come out with all their skills to all fans who throng the circuit while trying to gain the supremacy on the track.
Gayan Sandaruwan the Rider who has won the Walawa Supercross Championship four times said that the set up on the Sevanagala circuit is very attractive for the riders to show their talents and skills. He commended the setting of the latest watering system introduced on the track. He said that it not only help the riders but it also saves valuable time for the organizers. He thanked the SLEME for giving the opportunity to express his views.
The Col. Commadant Brig. Duminda Sirinaga also said that from this year onwards the Organizers have planned to offer a Memorial Challenge Trophy of late Ananda Wedisinghe who lost his life few months ago at the Nuwara-Eliya races.
This trophy will be awarded to the overall champion of the Open Super Motard Category. The Organizing Committee has also decided to have a raffle draw for tickets sold and the spectators are in for a prize the first a Motor Cycle and the second a refrigerator. This decision was taken in appreciation of the spectators who take great efforts to make their way to witness this mega event in a rural area.
The main sponsor for this year’s Walawa Supercross will the Causeway Paints Ltd. It’s General Manager V. Kiritharan addressing the media said that he has been following the sport for a long time.
And his company came forward to sponsor the event as it has been gaining popularity daily among all motor racing fans in the country which prompted them to support the sport in whatever possible way they can said the GM. He concluded saying that his company hopes to continue the sponsorship in the future too.