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| Sunday, 11 April 2004 |
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Rohan de Silva vs Suranjith Premadasa in Mahagastota Hill Climb today Course record-holder Suranjith Premadasa vs last year's champion Rohan de Silva in the Mahagastota Hill Climb today at Mahagastota. The Mahagastota Hill Climb is organised by the Ceylon Motor Sports Club and the 70th edition to be staged today is likely to turn out to be a battle between the two top-notch drivers - Premadasa and Rohan de Silva. The race will be staged at the Mahagastota Estate track in Nanu Oya and is scheduled to start at 8.30 a.m. Premadasa holds the current course record at 35.84 seconds which time he 'clocked' around 10 years ago, but Rohan de Silva is a champion in his own right and he improved on this timing two years back at official practices but failed to maintain the same form in the event proper. Do, the battle is likely to be on again. The event this year is sponsored by Motor Marvels Limited - the local agents for Suzuki in Sri Lanka. This popular hill climb is steeped in history as this is the first organised motor sports event in Sri Lanka way back on September 28 in 1834. From then onwards, Mahagastota Hill Climb has been an annual event and somewhat earned itself the name - the cradle of Motor Sport in Sri Lanka. The fame of Mahagastota is not merely National. This event is considered one of the oldest motor sporting events in South Asia. The Mahagastota Hill Climb is closely linked with the Ceylon Motor Sports Club, which interestingly was inaugurated a few days before the first Mahagastota. Mahagastota has since become an annual event, one that occupies a high priority on the Sri Lankan racing calendar. Numerous competitors at the event agree unanimously that this event is like no other. A course of around 600 yards, comprising of 2 hairpin bends, a fast right hander and a fast left hander, around 6 gear changes, all of this in around 40 seconds. "It is absolutely unforgiving" said a competitor with over 15 Mahagastota's under his belt. "This is one of few motor sporting events where driving technique is more essential than power," said another. |
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