Rohan de Silva - in top gear wins three events at speed 2011

by S. M. Jiffrey ABDEEN - Kandy Sports Corr.

MOTOR RACING: Maestro Rohan de Silva was back in top flight when he won three motor car events while Jaden Gunawardena won two motor cycle events and Dinesh Deheragoda took the title for the Super Cars at the first round of the Speed 2011 organised jointly by the Ceylon Motor Sports Club, Sri Lanka Motor Cycle Club, Racing Association and the Asian Motor Racing Motor Club and worked off at the Pannala Circuit.

Rohan de Silva, one of the best exponents in formula racing in Sri Lanka is not just a hill climber but a hill stormer having the hill climbing course records at Radella, Karundapona, Ace Park, Kotmale and also jointly with Nishan Weerasooriya at Mahagastota was a classic example of experience triumphing over youth.

Rohan de Silva driving a Mobil Nissan March first won the Nissan March 1000 cc One make event getting the better of S. A. Harsha and fashion designer Michael Wijesuriya, both being top drivers. Rohan de Silva's next - wins were in the Formula Ford 1600 cc (pre 85) and Formula McLarens.

Promising rider Jaden Gunawardena first won the event for Standard Motor cycles upto 125 cc and completed the double by taking the event for Standard motorcycles upto 125 cc under 16 years. This young rider is one to be watched in the future.

Dinesh Deheragoda, driving his Mitsubishi Evolution, stamped his class by winning the Super Cars event. In fact Dinesh Deheragoda has a high rate of success at Pannala which has now become his favourite hunting ground, winning many events in the past.

Another driver to put a fine display was Thivanka Wijesekera who won the Formula McLarens 1300 cc with Ryan Todd giving him a big challenger from behind and he repeated his success in race No. 2 of this event. Mahen Madugalle and Hafis Cader had a titanic struggle in the event for modified cars upto 1050 cc before the former won in a canter.

Results

Motor Cycles - Group 'J' standard upto 125 cc under-16 years: 1. Jaden Gunawardena, 2. Aaron gunaratne,

3. Irantha Tharuka.

Group 'O' Standard upto 125 cc: 1. Jaden Gunawardena, 2. Chaminda Gamage, 3. Sudath Weerasinghe.

Group SM super motard upto 250 cc four stroke: 1. Uditha Malavige, 2. P.A. Sudeep Vidarsha,

3. Thusitha Gunasekera.

Group 'O' standard upto 125 cc two stroke: 1. Shane Silva, 2. Kaushal Perera, 3. Chandana Weerasinghe.

Group 'O' standard upto 250 cc four stroke: 1. Ned Daniels, 2. Maduranga Caldera, 3. Lasika Godakanda.

Group SM super motard upto 450 cc four stroke: 1. Suraj Perera, 2. Ramal Pathiratne, 3. Thusitha Gunasekera.

Motor Cars - Standard Mini: 1. Ravi Rajakaruna, 2. Irshard Azlie, 3. Ravikumar Thanush.

Nissan March One Make event 1000 cc: 1. Rohan de Silva, 2. S.A. Harsha, 3. Michael Wijesuriya.

Formula McLarens 1300 CC: 1. Thivanka Wijesekera, 2. Ryan Todd, 3. Gayan Ranatunga.

Mini 7 Standard: 1. U.C. Perera, 2. Lakmal Wijeratne, 3. Namal Silva.

Ford Laser One Make event 1300 cc: 1. U.C. Perera, 2. Upulwan Serasinghe, 3. Prasanna de Alwis.

Modified cars upto 1050 cc SL-A: 1. Mahen Madugalle, 2. Hafiz Cader, 3. Kamal Yahathugoda.

Ford Laser 1500 cc One Make event: 1. Upulwan Serasinghe, 2. Roshan Dissanayake, 3. Chaminda Weerasuriya.

SL-H Cars 1600 cc: 1. Ashan Silva, 2. Pasindu Peiris, 3. Dilan Senaviratne.

Formula Ford Standard 1600 cc Post 85:

1. Dinesh Jayawardena, 2. Dilan Senaviratne, 3. Dilshan Dodanwela.

Standard Formula Ford 1600 cc Pre 85: 1. Rohan de Silva, 2. Waruna Ranatunga, 3. Kaushal Samarasinghe.

Formula McLarens 1600 cc: 1. Rohan de Silva, 2. Waruna Ranatunga, 3. Kaushal Samarasinghe.

Formula McLarens 1300 cc: 1. Thivanka Wijesekera, 2. Gayan Ranatunga, 3. Asela Ekanayake.

SL - GT Cars: 1. Dinesh Deheragoda, 2. S.M.J.N. Dias, 3. Pasindu Peiris.