The SLT-Mobitel Speed up tarmac racing event was completed on a grand scale at the Rotherham Circuit, Katukurunda on Sunday organised by Sri Lanka Automobile Sports where Ashan Silva grabbed the award for the fastest driver of the day.
Ashan who has four consecutive national Championship under his belt was the favourite on this day too and kept up to expectations winning both events in the SL-GT up to 3500cc category in grand style.
He had a stiff challenge from second favourite Ushan Perera throughout the first event. Ashan who got off the mark from the grid one never gave an opportunity for his challengers to come closer to him and handled his vehicle well until he received the chequered flag.
The event number two of the same race had many thrills for fans as Ashan was overtaken by Kaushal Samarasinghe on two occasions but the never say die Ashan did not fail to get to the front on both occasions and moved strongly till the end.
Another interesting part of the race was when Rohitha Rajapaksa who got off from the start line on fifth position was trailing behind leaders for almost seven laps and made a strong fight to get to the third position ahead of Ushan Perea. He held on to this position to receive the chequered flag and reach the podium as the second runner up.
The other driver to excel on this day was Viren Boteju competing in the in the SL-H Honda cars up to 1600 races. He won the first race ahead of young Kesara Godage and Induwara Senadeera.
He controlled his machine in a classy manner in the first race and continued to maintain his shills to win the second race too to make it a double in the SL-H Honda cars up to 1600 (One Make Honda 2-door Hatch Back Cars). He came second behind Ashan to win a double on this day. In this event it was Kesara Godage who was the only driver who posed a big threat to Viren from the start of the race and were followed by one of the most experienced drivers in this class, Zaakir Wahab.
In the SL-N cars up to 1300cc (One Make - Ford Laser/Mazda 1300cc) class it was another youngster Shenal the son Susantha Gunewardena former driver in this class who came up with a brilliant performance to take the title in this class. Devin Serasinghe, another son of a veteran driver Upulwan Serasingha, and Akila de Costa finished as runners up behind Shenal Gunewardena.
The oldest driver to compete at the races was one of the most experienced drivers in SL-A cars up to 1050cc (Modified) Mahen Madugalle who had to be content with the second slot as former Mini driver Yoga Perera’s son Thiran Perera who capitalised to win the event overcoming all challenges posed by Mahen and Chamika Ranatunga throughout the race.
The other drivers who went on to register victories were Thenuka Liyanaarachchi (SL-E cars up to 1300 (One Make Ford Laser/Mazda), Imraz Fayroze (SL - A cars Mini 7), Thilina Maleesha (SL-E cars up to 1300 (One Make Ford Laser/Mazda) - Group B, W.P. Dishma Sankalana SL -H Mini cars up to 1275cc (One Make - Mini), Daham Jayanith (SL -E cars up to 1000cc (One Make – Nissan March), SL-H Subaru Legacy cars up to 2000cc (One Make – Subaru Legacy), Randika Niroshan (SL-H Subaru Legacy cars up to 2000cc (One Make - Subaru Legacy) and Tharindu Dharmaratna SL -N cars up to 1500cc (One Make - Ford Laser/Mazda 1500cc)
The tarmac racing commenced after a lapse of nearly two years with Sri Lanka Automobile Sports headed by its president Ashhar Hameem taking the lead role.