Ashan Silva emerged as the champion driver once again at the inaugural SLT Mobitel Kukuleganga Hill Climb held in Mahagostota last Sunday (11).
Driving his Mitsubishi Evo, Ashan returned the best time of the day for cars in SI-Gt 3500 cc class.
This victory gave Ashan his third successive Speed Hill Climb win in the race organized by the Sri Lanka Army Motor Sports Committee with the corporation of the Motor Racing Association. It was also a new record lowering his own set last year.
Silva completed the 900 metres long climb of 90 metres high taking only 32.135 seconds to be the overall winner. The main contender to challenge Ashan was none other than Dinesh Jayawardena who faced one of the biggest mishaps when his Formula vehicle went off the road crashing onto hoardings.
With this incident he failed to complete the first run and also the second run as his vehicle could not be repaired soon enough.
Aaron Gunawardena was the star on this day on the two-wheelers winning two events ahead of his elder brother.
He recorded the best time in the Group M Super Sports Motorcycles 900 cc up to 1000cc category when he completed the course in only 33.508 seconds. Competing in the next race the Group M Super Sport Motorcycles 400cc up to 600cc category he set up the best time for the day of 33.701 ahead of his brother Jaden.
Jaden, who was looking to make it three wins in a row this season had to be satisfied with the runner-up title in two major events, behind his brother Aaron.
The other noteworthy performances for motorcycles saw the Pathirage family dominating with two sons and father reaching the podium.
In the Motor Cycles 700cc Open class it was father Mangala and son Nikila on the podium as winners while brothers Vinula and Nikila received awards as the runners-up in the Group M Super Sport Motorcycles over 175 cc up to 250cc 4/T.
The cars category too saw father Neil Weerasinghe and son Sandaru receiving awards in the Group ‘H’ Cars up to 1275cc.
Young Mihin Peiris who is following in his father Dammika’s footsteps and brother Kushan, was at his best driving in the Group N Cars up to and including 1300cc (one make Ford Lase/Mazda) 1300cc to return the best time of 45.583. He went on to win the next class Group N Cars up to and including 1500cc (one make Ford Laser/Mazda) 1500cc in a time of 45.008.
Two women drivers Lakshika Pathirana and Shehara de Silva too were in action on this day in the Group S Cars up to 1500cc (Modified Special). It was only Lakshika who was placed behind Zakir Wahab (38.520) and Sachith Pathirana 45.219. Lakshika returned a time of 37.619.
The Hill Climb was well conducted following all health guide lines and the Organisers had the fullest co-operation from the Motor Racing Association and Southern Motor Sports Club who did a fine job.
Results:
Group M Super Sport Motorcycles over 175 up to 250cc 4/T: Vinula Pathirage (39.35), Nikila Pathirage (39.614), Janaka Dinshe (39.663)
Group SM One-make Kawasaki Tracker 250cc: Sasindu Prasanna (39.529), Kushan Chamod (39.550), Malsha Minuwantha (41.113)
Group M Sports Touring Motorcycles, up to 600cc: Supun Suraj (38.794), Sasindu Prasanna (39.890), Mangala Pathirage (40.44)
Group SM Super Motard Over 175cc up to 250cc: Isuru Maduranga (35.985), Harsha Sivagnanam (38.037), Malsha Minuwantha (39.465)
Group SM Super Motard Motorcycles over 250cc Open: Jaden Gunawardena (35.108), Stephan Fernando (37.161), Reza Odayar (38.742).
Group SM over 100cc up to 125cc 2/T: Kushan Chamod (39.553), Stephan Fernando (41.722), AG Rusith Shamika (43.157)
Group SM Sports Touring Motorcycles over 700cc Open: Shashika Sandaruwan (39.608), Nikila Pathirage (39.850), Mangala Pathirage (39.937)
Group O Standard Motorcycles over 100cc up to125cc 4/T: RMRK Ratnayake (50.887), Dilan Ratnayaka (51.414), Suranjan Lakmal (51.789)
Group M Street Trail Motorcycles 100cc up to 250cc: Sarath Kumarasinghe (42.152), S. Vasudevan (44.607), Sivalingam Chandrapragash (45.461)
Group M Super Sport Motorcycles 400cc up to 600cc: Aaron Gunawardena (33.701), Jaden Gunewardena (33.73), Stephan Fernando (36.508)
Group M Super Sport Motorcycles 900cc up to 1000cc: Aaron Gunawardena (33.508), Stephan Fernando (36.617), Reza Odayar (37.964)
Cars:
Group Cars up to and including 1000cc (One make Nissan March): Daham Janith (46.304), Adeesha Kithwith (47.030), Thenuka Liyanaarachchi (47.590)
Group H Cars up to 1275cc (One Make Mini): Sandaru Weerasinghe (44.833), Chanaka Ratnayake (45.748), Neil Weerasinghe (45.970)
Group E Cars up to and including1300 (One Make Ford Laser/Mazda 1300cc: Thenuka Liyanaarachchi (44.874), Rashitha Pasan (45.676), Madushanka Jayasuriya (46.109)
Group T&J up to 5000cc (Trucks & Jeeps) Chamod Samarakoon (42.809), Buddhi Gunasekera (51.814), Duminda Jayasinghe (51.914)
Group N Cars up to and including 1300cc (One Make Ford Laser/Mazda 1300cc): Mihan Peiris (45.583), Akila de Costa (45.868), Imesh Silva (46.142)
Group T&J open (Trucks & Jeeps): Darin Weerasinghe (36.260), Imran Yakoob (41.116), Israq Wahab (41.625)
Group N Cars up to & including 1500cc (One Make Ford Laser/Mazda 1500cc): Mihan Peiris (45.008), Tharindu Dharmaratne (45.279), Shanaka Dias (45.828)
Group H Cars up to 2000cc (One Make Subaru Legacy): Randika Niroshan (40.159), Hashen Peiris (40.407), Shiran Dool (42.229)
Group A cars up to 1050cc (modified): Namal Silva (42.623), Duminda Amarasiri (42.807), Dilanka Wijesuriya (42.932)
Group H Cars up to 1618cc (SLH Honda 1600cc): Irfan Fuard (37.432), Randika Niroshan (37.624), Irshad Faham (37.754)
Group F Formula McLarens 1300cc EFI: Chandima Gunaratne (38.911), Mevan Perera (39.719), Kevin Perera (39.774)
Group F Modified Formula Cars up to 1665cc: Dilan Seneviratne (34.294), Nadeera Jinasena (35.103), Chandima Gunaratne (37.385)
Group S Cars up to 1500cc (Modified Specials): Zakir Wahab (38.520), Sachith Pathirana (45.219), Lakshika Pathirana (37.619)
Group SL GT Cars up to 3500cc: Ashan Silva (32.135), Abeeth Dangalla (34.613), Ushan Perera (35.742)