The Katukurunda Speed 2022 Circuit meet conducted by Sri Lanka Automobile Sports was worked off last Sunday on a grand scale with champion driver Ashan Silva taking major honors winning race One and Two in the SL GT up to 3500cc. For his two victories he was also declared as the Best Driver of the day.
The day saw two major incidents where the only woman driver Shehara de Silva who was involved in the first event SLH Cars up to 1600cc. At the first corner she went off the track but managed to continue the race and failed to reach the podium. In the second race of the same event she had to face more difficulties after coming off the goose neck after the second lap. With mishaps a few cars had to pull out due to huge damages.
The organisers decided to continue the event after clearing the track and the rest of the cars completed the seven laps minus cars involved in the crash.
Shehara too found difficulty in getting out of the bunch. It was the biggest incident that took place on this day. The incident saw three cars completely damaged.
Ashan who got off to a flying start reached closer to the first corner and went out of the track and saw his arch rival Ushan Perera take the lead.
But with cheers coming from the spectators the never-say-die Ashan controlled his vehicle well soon after and got past Ushan to be in front. Once again Ushan was able to gain the top position while passing the goose neck corner with only two laps before the finish line.
But the well experienced Ashan controlling his machine on the two straits managed to go past Ushan to achieve victory to the surprise of all fans present on this day. Ushan Perera and Irshaq Wahab were placed as runners up.
In the second race of the same Class it was Ashan who on grid position made no mistake with his start and controlled his vehicle in a magnificent manner throughout the event. Here too the battle was between the top drivers and second runner-up Irshaq Wahab failed to live up to expectations. The second runner up position was won by Abeeth Dangalla.
Viren Boteju who won the first race SL H Honda cars up to 1600 (One Make Honda) failed to live up to expectation in race Two in the same Class while Sangeeth Suriyage and Kesara Godage pushed out Viren Boteju to be the second runner up.
Results:
SL E cars up to 1000cc
(One Make Nissan March)
1. Yohan Gamaarachchi
2. Charith Perera
3. S K. Kisal
SL E cars up to 1000cc
(One Make – Nissan March)
1. Adeesha Kithwith
2. Anuda Kodagoda
3. Ashen Yasaratne
SL E cars up to 1300cc
(One Make Ford Laser/Mazda)
1. Ahamed Sharfan
2. Anuradha
3. Abishek Karawita
SL E cars up to 1300cc
(One Make Ford Laser/Mazda)
1. Rashitha Pasan
2. Shan de Silva
3. Prageeth Pravinda
SL N cars up to 1300cc
(One Make Ford Laser/Mazda)
1. Thenuka Liyanaarachchi
2. Akila de Costa
3. Imesh Silva
SL E cars up to 1000cc
(One Make/Nissan March)
1. Adeesha Kithwith
2. Charith Perera
3. Anuda Kodagoda
SL H Honda cars up to 1600
(One Make Honda) - Race 1
1. Viren Boteju
2. Randika Niroshan
3. Sangeeth Suriyage
SL A cars Mini 7
1. Imraz Fayroze
2. Sandaru Weerasinghe
3. Namal Silva
SL N cars up to 1500cc
(One Make - Ford Laser/Mazda)
1. Shenal Gunawardana
2. Tharindu Dharmaratne
3. Rajith Uluwita
SL GT cars up to 3500cc (Race 1)
1. Ashan Silva
2.Ushan Perera
3 Ishraq Wahab
SL H cars up to 2000cc
(One Make - Subaru Legacy)
1. Menaka Sandaruwan
2. Nigel Perera
3. Bathiya Amarasinghe
SL E cars up to 1300
(One Make Ford Laser/Mazda)
1. Ahamed Sharfan
2. Rashitha Pasan
3. Shan de Silva
SL A cars up to 1050cc
1. Sithara Peiris
2. Prasanna Rajakulendran
3. Chamika Ranatunga
SL H Honda cars up to 1600
(One Make Honda) – (Race 2)
1. Sangeeth Suriyage
2. Kesara Godage
3. Viren Boteju
SL GT cars up to 3500cc (Race 2)
1. Ashan Silva
2. Ushan Perera
3. Abeeth Dangalla
Best Driver of the Day
Ashan Silva