For a rookie in the Euroformula Open category, Yevan raced like a seasoned pro:
By the end of the triple-header weekend, Yevan held a 10-point lead in the Championship Standings:
His performances earned praise from former champions and current contenders alike:
The skies above Portugal’s Algarve International Circuit were painted with the colours of the Sri Lankan flag last weekend and for the first time in history, the sound of ‘Sri Lanka Matha’, the national anthem, echoed from a Euroformula Open podium.
17-year-old Yevan David, nicknamed The Lankan Lion, made the entire island nation beam with pride as he blazed his way to double victories and a podium finish at the opening round of the 2025 Euroformula Open Championship.
Roaring with pride
In a sport often dominated by European powerhouses, a young boy from Colombo proved that even in the fast lanes of global motorsport, a Sri Lankan heart can roar louder than engines. It was more than a win – it was a statement. A statement that Sri Lanka, too, can produce champions.
A veteran in spirit
For a rookie in the Euroformula Open category, Yevan raced like a seasoned pro. Competing in identical Dallara 324 single-seater chassis powered by TOM’S engines, every driver on that grid had an equal machine.
What made the difference was the courage behind the wheel and the brain under the helmet.
Yevan, racing for Germany’s renowned Motopark team – a team that once shaped the careers of Formula 1 stars like Max Verstappen and Yuki Tsunoda – was in the driver’s seat of destiny.
Despite being a newcomer to the series, the Sri Lankan teenager left the Portuguese Circuit not just with trophies but with the hearts of fans around the world.
By the end of the triple-header weekend, Yevan held a 10-point lead in the Championship Standings. Out of three races, he claimed a third-place finish and two consecutive victories – an achievement no Sri Lankan racer had ever accomplished in the history of single-seater European racing.
A shaky start
The weekend didn’t begin smoothly. In the qualifying round for the first race, Yevan narrowly missed out on pole position due to a minor technical issue. Starting from P2, the first corners of the race saw drama unfold.
Yevan went off track with a daring move that earned him brief airtime. Yet, like a true competitor, he kept his foot on the gas and clawed his way back to the podium, finishing third.
“I messed up a bit at the start,” Yevan admitted with humility after Race 1. “But after that, I stayed consistent. We didn’t have the pace to fight for first but I made up some really good positions.”
It was the kind of performance that showed what champions are made of – not those who never fall but those who rise faster after every stumble.
The Lion roars
Sunday arrived, and so did Yevan’s golden opportunity. In Race 2, starting from P4, the young Lankan needed only a handful of laps to surge into second place. Five laps in, he snatched the lead, never looking back.
“I took the lead and led to the end. It was a great feeling,” Yevan said, his voice filled with emotion. “I have to give this one to the team. They worked tirelessly on the car after Saturday’s race. We found something special today, and we put it all together.” But he wasn’t done yet.
In the third and final race of the weekend, Yevan started from P5. Another lightning start saw him rise to P3, then P2. With the bit between his teeth, Yevan bided his time, then overtook for the lead.
What looked like smooth sailing hit a road bump when a safety car was deployed after an accident on track. The field bunched up but Yevan kept his cool. Though he briefly lost the lead at the restart, he reclaimed it with authority. Another safety car followed, and the race was eventually stopped under a red flag.
“It was a tricky race with two safety cars this time,” Yevan shared. “I’m really happy I built the gap before the first safety car. I knew it would be a short race after the restart but I didn’t expect another safety car to finish under a red flag. Still, I’m proud of the performance.”
It was a victory under unusual conditions but it counted all the same. As the checkered flag waved and the red lights on the scoreboard lit up his name in first place, a nation 8,000 kilometres away stood a little taller.
A new chapter
This wasn’t just a personal milestone for Yevan. This was a moment of national pride. The Sri Lankan flag on the Euroformula podium, the anthem playing through the speakers in Portugal, and the name Yevan David on top of the championship standings – it was a script that could warm even the coldest heart.
The commentators hailed him as the Sri Lankan Superstar and his performances earned praise from former champions and current contenders alike. “This kid has guts,” one rival driver admitted. “He drives like he’s been here for years.”
Airline carriers celebrated too, as David left Portimão with not one, not two but six trophies in his travelling bag – including Rookie victories in all three races.
For the first time, a Sri Lankan became a multiple race winner at the Formula 3 level of international racing.
Yevan had also previously scored points in Formula 4 and Eurocup 3 and had stood on the top at the FIA Motorsport Games. But this Euroformula performance raised the bar for what was possible for racers from the island nation.
Sri Lanka’s top motor racing experts could hardly contain their joy. “This is a huge pride for Sri Lanka,” one veteran declared, his voice thick with emotion. Another called it “the most glorious moment in Lankan racing history,” while a seasoned official hailed, “The Sri Lankan Lion has truly roared in Europe.”
Their words were not just praise, but a proud roar echoing from Colombo to Portimão, as Yevan’s stunning victory turned a quiet island nation into a rising force on Europe’s fastest tracks.
Even the usually calm officials at the Ceylon Motor Sports Club (CMSC) couldn’t hide their joy. “This is a huge pride for Sri Lanka,” one senior member said. “We’ve never had a driver compete at this level, let alone win. Yevan’s victories will inspire a generation.”
Sri Lanka has long produced cricketing heroes and athletic warriors but Yevan’s success reminds us that there are fast lanes too where our sons can shine.
The 2025 Euroformula Open season is a long one, with eight rounds and 24 races across Europe’s most iconic tracks, including Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium, Hockenheimring in Germany, and Monza in Italy. Next up is Spa on May 16 to 18 – a legendary circuit that has tested the greatest drivers in history.
The road ahead
Yevan knows the road ahead won’t be easy. Competition is fierce. Engines will roar, wheels will lock and inches will decide races. But with 65 points already in the bag and a 10-point lead in the championship, the Lankan Lion has made his intentions clear – he’s here not just to participate but to win.
“I want to be part of this title fight,” Yevan said. “We’ve worked hard, and it’s nice to see it pay off. But this is just the start. The battle is long, and I’ll keep pushing.”
A dream realised
For young boys and girls in Sri Lanka who dream of motorsport glory, Yevan’s victory is more than a win. It’s proof that the flag can fly high in places where it never has before. It’s a message that if you have heart, grit, and courage, you can chase your dream, no matter how long the odds.
This weekend in Portugal wasn’t just about speed and strategy. It was about breaking barriers, flying the lion flag and roaring in a jungle full of European wolves. It was about a young man from Colombo who took on the world and came out on top.
The Lankan Lion has spoken – and the world has heard.
A historic moment for Sri Lanka
