Formula Plus Mahagastota Hill Climb today

MOTOR SPORTS: The Mahagastota Hill Climb of the Ceylon Motor Sports Club (CMSC) which is one of the oldest motor sports events is the country spanning over 70 years will be staged today (Sunday) and in being sponsored for the third consecutive year by Formula Plus of Sri Lanka Insurance in Nuwara Eliya, featuring the country's top drivers and riders.

Racing drivers and riders will gear themselves for an early start from 9 a.m. on a 675 yard steep climb on a tarred surface, where they will compete against the clock. The governing body for the sport will allocate vehicles into classes and the winner of each class will be those who record the fastest timing. Each competitor will have two runs up the hill, where the better of the two timings will be used. A challenging course has already been prepared for a trail blazing dash.

Some of the biggest names in motor sports in the country like Rohan de Silva, Nishan Weerasuriya, Sumanapala Mannapperuma and Bri Ponnambalam. There are a number of novices too and this year there are over 100 competitors and is part of the National Championship organised by SLAS.

Anil Kumara Meegahage (General Manager, Personal Lines of Sri Lanka Insurance) said that they are looking forward to this year's Formula Plus Mahagastota Hill Climb and were proud to bring a motor show of this calibre to the local public. He said that it was a privilege to support Sri Lanka's motor sports in this manner.

Formula Plus has supported such events as the Formula Plus Classic Car Rally, Good Driver competition and the Formula Plus Motor Show amongst many in the past.

Sri Lanka Insurance is also supporting the Sri Lanka leg of the SAARC Rally now in progress which is designed to promote trade and tourism in the region with the co-ordination of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Tourism covering over 900 km through key parts of the country.

- L.G.