CEAT racing champs crowned at SLAS Awards gala

Racing drivers Irfan Fuard and Susantha Gunawardhana were honoured with special awards by top tyre maker CEAT Kelani Holdings at the Sri Lanka Automobile Sports (SLAS) Awards night for their success in racing events conducted exclusively for users of CEAT radial tyres.

The two drivers were the champions in the SLN Ford Laser/Mazda 1500 cc and SLN Ford Laser/Mazda 1300 cc category events at 10 ‘one-make’ races conducted by SLAS in 2012. They notched up 30 points each at the end of the racing season, having competed in four tarmac meets, three hill climbs and three road races at which all drivers used CEAT tyres.

Meanwhile, CEAT sponsored driver Upulwan Serasinghe, the champion driver in the SLN Ford Laser/Mazda 1300 cc and SLN Ford Laser/Mazda 1600 cc events on gravel surfaces, also won two awards at the event.

Trophies were presented to these ‘CEAT Champions’ by Ravi Dadlani, Vice President Sales and Marketing of CEAT Kelani Holdings, at the awards gala at the Golden Rose Ballroom, Boralesgamuwa on 31 January 2013.

“CEAT tyres had already conquered Sri Lanka’s roads as the highest selling tyres for cars as well as commercial vehicles, when we began our partnership with SLAS,” Dadlani said. “Now, our new and improved radials have proved their mettle on the trying surfaces of the country’s race tracks, and CEAT Kelani Holdings is delighted to recognise the champions of the ‘CEAT races’ conducted by SLAS.”

Many of the drivers who competed in the SLAS ‘one-make’ races were presented with CEAT radial tyres. The 10 race meets covered by the agreement between CEAT Kelani and SLAS were the Radella Hill Climb, Mahagasthota Hill Climb, Eliyakanda Hill Climb, Kandy Night Race, Colombo Night Race, Nuwara Eliya Road Race, Rotherham Katukurunda and three tarmac racing events on the Pannala race track.

A global tyre brand whose credentials are built on performance, CEAT is one of the biggest supporters of motor sport in Sri Lanka and the title sponsor of many annual racing events conducted by SLAS.