Sri Lanka Automobile Sports (SLAS) Awards Ceremony 2015 aims to initiate ambitious chapter in Sri Lanka’s motor racing quest
For the Sri Lankan motor racing events calendar, 2015 was undoubtedly an exciting and one of the best years that the motor racing segment in the country had ever experienced so far. Keeping this attribute in mind, the Sri Lanka Motor Racing Awards Ceremony 2015 was successfully held at the Auditorium of the Sports Ministry in Colombo 07 commemorating the talents behind the wheels.
The Ministry of Sports and CEAT Sri Lanka had provided support to the competitions through contributions of cash awards and trophies for the competitors. Secretary of the Sri Lanka Automobile Sports Wing Commander Jaliya Jayasekera (Retd) and other officials of the Sports Ministry were present during the prize giving.
Sri Lanka Automobile Sports Council President Mr. Rodney Mason along with members of his committee had continually strived to bring the Motor Sports segment in Sri Lanka to a whole new level where Sri Lankan Motor Sport drivers would be placed on par with International Motor Sports competitions.
“This event has helped to bring forward the great talents behind the wheels as well as give them the boost and confidence needed to see them through at future events of this caliber. The enthusiasm and determination we have had witnessed in the course of these events has been of utmost character and the support we have had from the many stakeholders in this great initiative has been instrumental. I would like to take this opportunity to thank on behalf of SLAS, the Honourable Minister of Sports, Dayasiri Jayasekera and his staff members for their continued backing for this endeavor,” Wing Commander Jaliya said.
The National Championship was split in to two segments:
- Sri Lanka National Champion “Gravel Events”
- Sri Lanka National Champion “Tarmac Events”
The Classes or group of vehicles that were selected for the National Championship are as Follows,
- GROUP SL- GT CARS UP TO 3500 CC
- GROUP SL- H CARS UP TO 1618 CC
- GROUP SL- SPECIALS CARS UP TO 1500 CC
- GROUP SL – N FORD LASER MAZDA CARS UP TO 1500CC
The Championship which took place was known to be one of the oldest and most challenging tracks situated in the hill country namely “The Fox Hill Super Cross” at the Sri Lanka Army Military Training Academy in Diyathalawa conducted by the Sri Lanka Autosport Drivers Association (SLADA). Another two championship events for the Gravel category that followed was the Gajaba Super Cross which was also conducted by SLADA and the Walawe Super Cross that was conducted by SLMCC.
The championship events of the Katukurunda Circuit Meet 1 conducted by AMRC, Katukurunda Circuit Meet 2 conducted by Sri Lanka Association of Racing Drivers and Riders (SLARDAR), Rotherham Katukurunda Circuit Meet conducted by Sri Lanka Autosport Drivers Association (SLADA) and the Pannala Circuit meet conducted by Asian Motor Racing Club (AMRC) were part of the tarmac segment.
Sri Lanka Automobile Sports (SLAS) also unveiled a National TSD Rally championship; a 4 round Championship which will be competed under the guidelines of the Sri Lanka Automobile Sports. These Rallies will be organized by The Southern Motor Sports Club, Sri Lanka Association of Racing Drivers and Riders, Ceylon Motor Sports Club and The Colombo Motor Sports Club.
Currently, 9 clubs are affiliated to the Sri Lanka Automobile Sports which conduct national level motor sport events in Sri Lanka. They are the Asian Motor Racing Club, Ceylon Motor Sports Club, Colombo Motor Sports Club, Motor Racing Association, Negombo Motor Sports Club, Sri Lanka Autosports Drivers Association, Sri Lanka Motor Cycle Club, Sri Lanka Association of Racing Drivers and Riders and the Southern Motor Sports Club.
All winners were given cash prizes worth LKR 50,000 and trophies encouraging their talent.
2016 Racing Calendar
The 2016 racing calendar was also carefully crafted this year as The Sri Lanka Automobile Sports announced the championship events for 2016. Unlike 2015 there is set to be only one champion chosen per class.
The championship will include 2 hill climbs, 3 Gravel Races and 4 Tarmac races making it a 9 round Championship. The unveiling of the 2016 Championship was done during the awards presentation ceremony.
Further SLAS has taken the initiative to develop the TSD (Time, Speed, and Distance) Rally segment as a national level event in Sri Lanka. The TSD segment has become a very popular racing event in the recent past amongst corporates, private clubs, schools etc.
The Champions
After a constant battle the following competitors emerged victorious as the Champion of each class:
1) Group SL – GT Cars Up to 3500 CC
- Champion “Gravel” Racing – Ashan Silva
- Champion “Tarmac” Racing – Ashan Silva
2) Group SL – H Cars Up to 1618 CC
- Champion “Gravel” Racing – Sajaad Zuhair
- Champion “Tarmac” Racing – Sajaad Zuhar
3) Group SL – Special Cars Up to 1500 CC
- Champion “Gravel” Racing – Sajaad Zuhair And Kushan Peiris (Joint Champions)
- Champion “Tarmac” Racing – Madushan Mannapperuma
4) Group SL – N Ford Laser / Mazda Cars Up to 1500 CC
- Champion “Gravel” Racing – Kushan Peiris
- Champion “Tarmac” Racing – Shenal Gunawardena
