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| Sunday, 15 September 2002 |
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Dilshard Hamdoon and Shalutha Adasuriya top contenders for Samsung Trophy by S. M. JIFFREY ABDEEN - Kandy Sports Correspondent The first ever SLARDAR Motor Racing Championship organised by the Sri Lanka Association of Racing Drivers and Riders (SLARDAR) will run its final event for the year 2002 calendar at Katukurunda today September 15. The Official practices for determining the grid positions were held yesterday. The Over 22 Kg/HP event for the Samsung Trophy despite completing four rounds, still appears to be open and the title could be anybody's with Team Caltex's Dilshard Hamdoon in the lead with 22 points followed by his teammate Shalutha Adasuriya who despite dropping points at Radella Hill Climb and Fox Hill Supercross has made a strong bid for the title with 18 points, with his pal Nishan Wasalathanthri also of Caltex who collected 10 points at the Gajaba Supercross. Veterans Bri Ponnambalam and Rohan de Silva both from Team Mobil Auto Colour have an outside chance of lifting the Over 12.0 Kg/HP title if they could secure first place at this event, as they have 14 and 13 points respectively to their credit. Their task could have been easier had they not encountered mechanical problems at the Gajaba Supercross. The high riding Dinesh Deheragoda from the Team UMMLL behind a United Motors Mitsubishi Evolution VII has already won the Edward 'Bugs' Mason Trophy presented in memory of the doyen in motor racing in Sri Lanka and served as the motor racing journalist for over 40 years for the OBSERVER the late Edward Mason. Dinesh Deheragoda who lost to Arvinda Premadasa of Team Caltex at the Gajaba Supercross is an unassailable position in the Super Cars event with 44 points. Here the tussle will be for the second slot between Arvinda Premadasa, Nalind Dilpriya Petera and Risvi Farouk - all from Team Caltex. The fight for the Ford Formula event will be an all Team Mobil Auto Colour affair for the London Fog Trophy. Mobil Team leader and maestro who is one of the finest exponents in formula racing in the domestic scene is leading the race with 34 points but he is strongly challenged from behind by his pal of many years Romani de Silva with 22 points and Dinesh Jayawardena is lying third with 18 points. Two events will be worked for this title championship and 20 points is at stake, and a win for Rohan de Silva could decide the championship title. But outside the championship race there are a few newcomers like Michael Muthumani and Romesh Paul both driving Image Formula and also thrown into the fray are Harsha de Silva (nephew of Rohan de Silva), Tharindu Lokuge, and Sampath Karunaratne and their presence will augur well for the future of formula racing in Sri Lanka. The racing for thoroughbred racing bikes up to 125 cc which is sponsored by Subash & Churchill Group is led by Damien Gunatillake with 20 points followed by Krishan Dias of Team Castrol with 12 points who must win and collect the maximum 10 points to win the title. Nalin Perera has already won the championship title for Group MX Racing Motorcross Bikes up to 125 cc with an unbeatable 54 points and Rakkitha Wijetunga who is second placed has only 21 points and he will be given a good run for his money by Duanne Gunawardena and Gayan Sandaruwan for the runners-up berth. Over 15 drivers and riders will be seen in action and in their tryst for honour and glory this Sunday to set the Katukurunda circuit alight with their dare devilry. Some of the top drivers who will be seen in action are Kandan Parameswaran, Hafis Cader, Madushan and father Sumanapala Manapperuma, Sheran Cooke, Dushan Dinamithra, Rohith de Silva, Ushada Abeysundera, Buddhika de Silva, Rajitha Cooke, Nihal Premasiri, Ferose Omar, Upul Perera, Upulwan Serasinghe, Ravi Mayadunne, Rohan Fernando, Dammika Peiris, Rohan Wijeratne, Niroshan Pereira, Sheran Fernando, Devaka Amerasuriya, Rohan Speldewinde, Israq Wahab, Zackie Ismail, Shurendra Lawrence, Prasanna Ranasinghe up and coming Mansur Hassen, Reyas Farook, Risvi Farouk, Sanjeewa de Mel, Javidh Wahab. In the motorcycle category, it will be Ferose Omar, Nalin Perera, Damien Gunatillake, Krishan Dias, Rakkitha Wijetunga, Ajay Gunatillake, Nilantha Perera, Maduranga Caldera, Ruwan Peiris, Prabath Peiris, Randy Anthony, Susil Wanniarachchi and Himesh Pathberiya who will thrill the crowds. All in all a full day's exciting fare is in store for the motor racing funs who will be given their money's worth, and the SLARDAR should be complimented for running their first ever National Championship on a highly successful note. |
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