By M. Shamil Amit

The Navy Racing Club (NRC) has finalized arrangements to conduct the Colombo Supercross, scheduled to speed off on December 1 at the gravel racing track of NRC in Welisara. Joining hands with the NRC to make this event a success will be the Sri Lanka Association of Racing Drivers and Riders better known as SLARDAR, a proven club with vast experience in having conducted motor racing events in the past, and the Nuwara Eliya Motor Racing Club.

This was revealed by Director General Services SLN, Rear Admiral Nilantha Heenitigala and Chairman of the Colombo Supercross 2019 at a press briefing held at the Naval Headquarters auditorium in Colombo.

Speaking further, he emphasized that the inaugural Colombo Supercross held last year was a tremendous success offering the drivers and riders a challenging opportunity to showcase their talent in what now is known as the number one gravel racing track in Sri Lanka.

He added that the laying of the track work began in the year 2012 and was designed, prepared and done by motocross champion Gayan Sandaruwan and Hans Ralf Karpenski a synonymous name in the field of building racing tracks in Sri Lanka and the designer of now famous Foxhill, Gajaba and several other racing tracks around the island.

Speaking further, he said the track was built within the space of two years in 2014 but was initially made use for the Navy riders to practice at the tracks.

The idea of conducting a racing event took its turn when the Commander of Sri Lanka Navy gave the green light and from there on the officials of the NRC racing committee along with Gayan Sandaruwan left no stone unturned with our plans to conduct a racing event.

He further stated that we don’t intend building more racing tracks and we will focus on this track to make improvements all the time, with the ultimate aim to provide a state-of-the-art track to international standards for the local drivers and riders to improve their talent.

According to the organizers those coming to witness the Colombo Supercross the topography of the terrain is such that they could see the races at a higher ground level which will be a thrilling experience in motocross which no other racing tracks in Sri Lanka could offer.

The Colombo Supercross is conducted with the aim of utilizing the profits made, for the welfare of the families of Navy war heroes killed in action during the ethnic war and also to offer facilities and scholarships to their children.

The 3rd Colombo Supercross will see 25 events being conducted with 14 in the motor car and motorcycle categories. The car track has a length of 1.2 kms with more up and down hills and drifting corners which will be a challenge to the drivers participating.

The motor bike track is of 1.8 kms in length with jumps and bends which according to the officials that includes the longest jump in any track in Sri Lanka.

The meet is no doubt going to be of much interest as this will be the final event to select the Hutch/SLARDAR champion driver and rider of 2019 with nearly 200 in the fray in both the drivers and riders categories.

Ashan Silva who emerged the champion driver for second successive year is the favourite to lift the drivers’ title but he will face stiff opposition from Ushan Perera while Jacques Gunawardena who is the leading rider will look to stabilize his position while Buddhika Kasun who was the champion rider of 2018 will have to do something extraordinary.