The SLT Speed Up Eliyakanda Hill Climb became a history-making event for driver Ashan Silva as he was able to lower the existing record for the course set in 2018.
Last Sunday Ashan driving his Evo 9 on this 675 metre course in style was able clock 31.76 seconds in the first run also erasing the record held by Dilan Seneviratne with a time of 32.422 seconds.
Later in the day coming on for his second run he improved further on the record he set during the first run taking only 31.26 seconds to complete the course and also was able to take the Award on offer for the day, the Fastest Driver's Award in addition to the Award for the SL Gt 3500cc Class cars event. Last year too he received the fastest Driver Award when he clocked 32.428 seconds.
The young rider Jaden Gunew
ardena was the best among the riders when he had the best time of the day 34.12 seconds riding in the Supersport Group M - Motorcycles over 900cc up to 1000ccc 4T. This timing helped him carry away the Fastest Rider's Award on this day. In addition to this win he also achieved two more victories riding in two Group M - Group M over 400cc up to 600cc 4T and Supper sport Group SM - Supper Motard Open events.
It has to be noted that Gunewardena when winning his two major motor cycle events for the day was closely followed by his brother Aaron. These achievements too can be considered as a noteworthy record for racing events conducted by clubs in the island up to date.
In the motor car event too there was the father and son combination in two events with Susantha Gunewardena and his son Shenal Gunewardena with both of them coming on to the podium twice. Last year’s fastest rider Sangeeth Suriyage riding in his pet event the Group SM - Supper Motard Open failed to live up to expectations when he clocked 34.38 behind Jaden Gunewardena who had a better time of 33. 63 seconds.
In Group T&J up to 5500cc - Duminda Jayasinghe had a time of 44.61 ahead of Cassim Wahab the oldest competitor who has raced on all tracks in the island. The second event for Group T&J Open for Diesel and Petrol, Darin Weerasinghe was well ahead by two seconds of Ishraq Wahab the son of Cassim followed by the president of Southern Motor Sports Club Sanjaya Sedera Senerath who clocked 39.05.
The Minister of Sports Namal Rajapaksa who was present at the start of the event said the Southern Motor Sports Club has set a fine example by organizing a grand event not violating the health guidelines and Ministry regulation stipulated due to the ongoing Covid - 19 pandemic.
He further said that other clubs too can come forward with new plans to conduct their events in the future following regulations stipulated and keep the sport moving towards for a better future.
Results: Motor Cycles:
Group O - Standard Motorcycles over 100cc up to 125cc - 1. Sanjeeva Udayakumara (42.47), 2. Maheel Pavithra (41.48), 3. Dilan Ratnayake (43.43)
Group M - Standard Modified Motorcycles over 100cc up to 125cc 2T - 1. Kushan Appuhamy (38.45), 2. Danushka de Silva (40.58)a, 3. Gayan Priyadharshana (40.90)
Group M - One Make Motorcycle YAMAHA FZ 160 - 1. Pasanka Samarawickrema (37.87), 2. Janaka Dinesh (38.94) 3. Asanka Samarawickrema (39.65)
Group M - One Make Motorcycle YAMAHA FZ 160 - 1. Maheel Pavithra (42.03), 2.Amila Pathum (42.36), 3. Arun Himasha (46.35)
Group M - Modified Motor Cycles 250cc Super Sports 4T - 1. Janaka Dinesh (35.66), 2. Ishan Kavinda (38.98), Duminda Koswatte (39.33).
Group M - Street Trail Motor Cycles over 175cc up to 250cc 4T – 1. Maheel Pavithra (36.09), 2. Supun Suraj (37.34), 3. Udara Chandimal (37.34)
Group M - Street Trail Motor Cycles up to 250cc 2T - 1. S. Vasudevan (40.05), 2. Sarath Kumarasinghe (40.15), 3. Sivalingam Gnanaprakash (40.87)
Group M - One Make Motorcycle KAWASAKI TRACKER 250cc 4T - 1. Maheel Pavithra (36.32), 2. Sasinda Prasansana (38.11), 3. Supun Suraj (37.22)
Group SM - Super Motard 250cc 4T - 1. Dushan Mudalige (33.93), 2. Isuru Maduranga (35.48), 3. Maheel Pavithra (36.26)
Group SM - Super Motard Open - 1. Jaden Gunewardena (33.63), 2. Sangeeth Suriyage (34.38), 3. Dushan Mudalige (34.56)
Group M - Sports Touring Motor Cycles up to 600cc - 1. Supun Suraj (38.62), 2. Navindu Silva (41.75), Pasan Buddika (41.98)
Group M - Sports Touring Motor Cycle over 700cc - 1. Sashika Sandaruwan (38.660), 2. Insaaf Bashir (38.668) 3. B.A.E.S. Hemachandra (41.57)
Group M - Group M over 400cc up to 600cc 4T Super Sport - 1. Jaden Gunewardena (34.84), 2. Aaron Gunewardena (35.39), 3. Arun Himasha (46.76)
Group M – Motor Cycles over 900cc up to 1000ccc 4T Super Sport - 1. Jaden Gunewardena (34.12), 2. Aaron Gunewardena (34.73), 3. Reza Odayar (35.87)
Group M - Automatic Transmission Scooter over 90cc up to 115cc - 1. R.M. Mimshad (49.48), 2. K.D.S. Sandaruwan (49.96), 3. Navindu Silva (49.97)
Motor Car Events:
SL - N Ford Laser/Mazda 323 up to 1500cc -1. Rajith Uluwita (39.74), 2. Shenal Gunewardena (40.06), 3. Susantha Gunewardena (40.9)
SL - N Ford Laser/Mazda 323 up to 1300cc - 1. Susantha Gunewardena (40.08), 2. Kolitha Edirisinghe (41.53), 3. Shenal Gunewardena (41.62)
Formula McLarens 1300cc EFI - 1. Kevin Perera (38.57), 2. Ryan Grey (41.4), 3. Shiyan Shanaka Rodrigo (41.55)
Formula Cars Modified up to 1665cc - 1. Nadeera Jinasena (33.17), 2. Dilan Seneviratne (33.51), 3. Ryan Grey (42.5)
Group T&J up to 5500cc - 1. Duminda Jayasinghe (44.61), 2. Casim Wahab (52.54)
Group T&J Open for Diesel & Petrol - 1. Darin Weerasinghe (36.48), 2. Ishraq Wahab (38.30), 3. Dr. Sanjaya Sedara Senerath (39.05)
Group A - 1000cc -1. Chamika Rantunga (37.67), 2. Dilupa Palliyaguru (38.01), 3. Dilanka Wijesuriya (38.46)
Mini 7 (One Make) - 1. Sandaru Weerasinghe (39.91), 2. Neil Weerasinghe (40.87), 3. Namal Silva (42.03)
SLH Cars up to 1618cc -1. Randika Niroshan (35.47), 2. Irfan Fuard (35.61), 3. Shehara Jayawardena (38.17)
SLH Cars up to 1618cc - 1. Randika Niroshan (36.65), 2. Asanka Bandara (37.04), 3. Hashen Peris (37.39)
SL Mini cars One Make up to 1275 - 1. Chanaka Ratnayake (40.76), 2. Sandaru Weerasinghe (41.05) , 3. Gihan de Silva (41.66)
SL GT cars 3500cc - 1. Ashan Silva (31.26), 2. Tyron Hendavitharana (33.25), 3. Nadeera Jinasena (34.44)
SL - E Nissan March 1000cc - 1. Daham Jayanith (40.55), 2. Adisha Kithvith (41.00), 3. Nirosh Jeewantha (41.696), 4. Duminda Gunasekera (41.698), 5. Chameen Sri Wickrama (41.73)
SL - E Ford Laser/Mazda 323 up to 1300cc - 1. Thushan Madushanka (40.64), 2. Chamath Palliyaguru (41.17) 3. Rashitha Pasan (41.25), 4. Duminda Gunasekera (41.87), 5. Thenuka Yasith (41.88)
Group S - Cars up to 1500cc - 1. Chamika Ranatunga (40.03), 2. Dilanka Wijesooriya (41.02), 3. Shehara Jayawardena (41.75)
Diesel Cars Open - Club Event- 1. Dilupa Palliyaguru (44.31), Rajitha Uluwita (46.16), 3. Rashitha Pasan (55.17)
Special Club Event up to 1600cc - Open- Javid Wahab (46.16)
Best Diver - Ashan Silva - 31.26 secs.
Best Rider - Jaden Gunewardena - 34.12 secs.
Fastest timing of the day - Ashan Silva - 31.26