A Legacy Undone Foxhill Supercross, once the pinnacle of Sri Lanka’s motorsport calendar, was more than just a race—it was a national spectacle. The event was the brainchild of Hans Ralf, then President of SLARDAR, who envisioned an international-level motorsport competition in Diyatalawa.
His vision materialized into Foxhill Supercross, a race so iconic that Diyatalawa became an essential stop during the annual April travel season. SLARDAR’s success did not stop at Foxhill. The club’s relentless efforts expanded off-road racing to venues such as Gajaba, Minneriya Cavalry, commando, Colombo Supercross and many others, positioning Sri Lanka as a rising motorsport hub in Asia.
During this period, India’s top national riders trained on Sri Lankan soil, and for a time, Sri Lanka set the benchmark for off-road racing in the region. However, internal conflicts led to the fragmentation of SLARDAR, with a breakaway faction forming SLADA, an organization with a nearly identical name. Backed by the then-controlling body, SLADA took over SLARDAR’s events, including Foxhill.
Eventually, the governing body itself assumed control of Foxhill, shifting away from its primary role of regulating the sport rather than organizing races and in later years, the Motorcycle Federation of Sri Lanka was invited to join hands in running the event.
However, concerns arose over whether a governing body should organize races rather than ensuring clubs follow regulations and safety standards. Under its current president, Shane Gunawardena, the federation declined to participate in event management, emphasizing that its role is to govern the sport, not take over events built by clubs.
Gunawardena’s connection to Foxhill runs deep—he was the first-ever champion of the inaugural race. Even before Foxhill Supercross was formalized, he and Hans Ralf rode on the Foxhill trails while training the Sri Lanka Army’s Rapid Deployment Force and the Special Task Force of the Sri Lanka Police.
Many in the motorsport community view the loss of Foxhill as a major setback for Sri Lanka’s motorsport heritage, especially since the country was on the verge of establishing itself as a premier off-road racing destination in Asia.
Today, history appears to be repeating itself. Just as SLARDAR lost Foxhill due to internal divisions and power struggles, a group of eight clubs is now working to stifle an emerging club that aims to bring professionalism and fresh ideas into the sport.
The same collective responsible for Foxhill’s downfall—through mismanagement and neglect—has once again united, despite an inquiry into the tragic deaths of eight marshals and spectators being quietly dismissed.
Their resistance was evident when they attempted to prevent the Katukurunda race from taking place last Sunday March 30, 2025. Foxhill’s story serves as a cautionary tale, underscoring the need for motorsport to be driven by riders, competition, and progress—not politics, personal agendas, and greed.
