Pangolla circuit to be inaugurated with hi-octane racing on July 11

Cavalry Supercross: An exciting new event and a virgin race track will capture the attention of motorsports enthusiasts when the Sri Lanka Armoured Corps and the Sri Lanka Association of Racing Drivers and Riders (SLARDAR) conduct the inaugural 'Cavalry Supercross' at the Corps' 'Ironside' base at Pangolla, Kurunegala on 11th July.

The 60 feet wide, 1.4 km gravel track with five corners will host at least 13 races for cars and 14 motorbike races in the fourth CEAT SLARDAR championship event of the year, and help raise funds for several worthy causes identified by the Sri Lanka Armoured Corps.

Major General Niranjan Ranasinghe, Colonel Commandant of the Sri Lanka Armoured Corps said the Cavalry Supercross is the fifth motorsports event hosted by a unit of the Sri Lanka Army, but the first for the Armoured Corps. "We have plans to maximize the potential of the track we have built by promoting the venue for coaching camps and practice driving throughout the year, leveraging on its proximity to Colombo" he said.

"The foremost objective of building the racetrack and conducting the Cavalry Supercross is to create a source of sustainable income for welfare projects within the corps, particularly supporting the immediate families of officers and men killed or maimed in battle", Major General Ranasinghe said.

Another key objective is to raise funds for the improvement of infrastructure, working environments, medical, recreational, housing and dining facilities in camps housing serving officers and men.

"The Cavalry Supercross will also make use of the skills and advanced organisational strength of the Armoured Corps to improve motor racing in Sri Lanka", he said. "A fine race track constructed giving due consideration to the environment will provide drivers and riders an ideal platform to improve their skills towards competitive international participation."

SLARDAR President Rodney Mason said the addition of the Cavalry Supercross to the annual racing calendar of the association is a milestone for competitors and spectators alike, since it adds variety to the circuit and is strategically located. "Kurunegala is home to many race drivers and is close enough to attract large numbers of spectators from Colombo, Kandy and their suburbs, and we expect this event and track to become very popular in a short time," Mason said.

He said 200 competitors had already registered with SLARDAR to participate in the inaugural Cavalry Supercross on 11th July.

Brigadier Indunil Ranasinghe, Centre Commandant of the Sri Lanka Armoured Corps said the Pangolla race track could accommodate more than 15,000 spectators, and had a grandstand capacity of 1,000, grandstand tickets would be priced at Rs. 1,000 and Rs. 500, paddocks for Rs. 1,000 and 'the stable' where spectators could go with vehicles and watch the race are priced at Rs. 500 with standard entrance tickets at Rs. 100. Adding to the glamour of the event, the Armoured Corps would display some of the main battle tanks and armoured vehicles that helped win the war, and the two top winners in the motorcar and motorbike events would be accorded a victory lap atop a Russian built BTR Armoured car, he said.

The Cavalry Supercross has received principal sponsorship from the Bank of Ceylon. CEAT Sri Lanka, the main sponsor of the 2010 SLARDAR Championship is a co-sponsor of the event, along with Development Lotteries Board, Sri Lanka Insurance and Cosmic Technologies.