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Sanjeewa Ambawatta and Rahul Uluwita create
history...:
First novices to win major motor rally
by Priyan DE SILVA - Matara Sports Corr.
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Overall Winners... Sanjeewa Ambawatta (left) and Rahal
Uluwita (right) with their Mitsubishi Montero with the
trophies they won at the Monsoon Rally Course. Picture by
Priyan de Silva – Matara Sports Corr. |
MOTOR RALLY: Sanjeewa Ambawatte (driver) and Rahul Uluwita
(navigator) created history by being the first novices to win a major
motor rally held in Sri Lanka. They emerged winners with 59 debit points
in the three-stage 600 km - 14th Southern Monsoon Rally in their
non-rally prepared 2800 c.c. Mitsubishi Montero.
Besides winning the overall race, they were first runners-up with 13
debit points in stage one which was from Matara to Udawalawe (4 hours)
and the third stage with 22 debit points from Hambantota to Matara (4
hours). They were placed first in the Novices event, non-rally prepared
vehicles event and the team event representing Young Southern Motor
Sports Club Team (Team YSMSC).
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A job well done ... Andrew Silva 14 years experience
in plotting course for the Southern Monsoon Rallies. |
Ramesh Ubayarathna (driver) and Rajitha Uluwita (navigator) also from
Team YSMSC driving 1300 c.c. No-rally prepared Suzuki Swift were placed
8th in the overall event, but were first runners-up in the Novices Event
and non-rally prepared vehicles event.
Although 26 vehicles started off only 19 vehicles finished the
course.
Stage One: Matara to Udawalawe via. Thihagoda - Kirinda - Puhulwella
- Hakmana - Kirama - Walasmulla (4 hours - 21 check points).
Stage Two: Udawalawe to Hambantota via Sevanagala -
Kahakurullanpelessa - Balaharuwa - Tanamalwila - Meegahapandura -
Suriyawewa-Gonnoruwa - Bandagiriya and Weerawila. (3 hours 45 minutes -
21 check points).
Stage Three: Hambantota to Matara via Mayurapura - Kokgalla -
Habaraththewa - Ridiyagama - Madunagala - Padalangala - Uswewa -
Kachchigalara - Angunukola - Debokkawa - Weeraketiya - Walasmulla -
Deiyandara - Multiyana - Makandura - Thalagama - 4 hours - 22 check
points). This gruelling course which was a test to the drivers skills
and vehicles, was plotted by Andrew Silva who has done so for the past
thirteen Southern Monsoon Rallys conducted annually by the Southern
Motor Sports Club. It took him four months to plot this particular
course for the 14th Southern Monsoon Rally in 2011. |
