Ashan Silva and Jaden Gunawardene set new course records at Eliyakanda

Ashan Silva receiving the award for setting the fastest time of the day from SMSC President Dr. Sanjaya Sedara Senarath 

Text and pix by P.D. De Silva 

Ashan Silva, driving a Mitsubishi Evo ix, set a new course record of 31.26 seconds for the Eliyakanda Hill Climb yesterday while on the previous day, Jaden Gunawardane clocked 33.63 seconds on two wheels to erase the 33.752 second mark set by Sangeeth Suriyage last year.

Ashan who has mastered the Eliyakanda track, smashed Dilan Senevirathne’s 2018 record of 32.422 seconds on his first run with a timing of 31.78 seconds and bettered it by clipping off 0.52 seconds in his second run. Ashan was the fastest at last year’s edition as well.

Speaking at the awards presentation, Ashan said that it takes a team effort to be able to establish new records and thanked his maintenance crew and all those who supported him to enter his name in the record books yesterday.

The motorcycle events of the SLT-Mobitel Southern Eliyakanda Hill Climb were worked off on Saturday. Jaden Gunawardane established a new course record clocking 33.63 seconds while Sangeeth Suriyage, the previous record holder, could only manage to clock 34.38 seconds to take second place in the Group SM Super Motard open event. Jaden won three events on Saturday.

It was unfortunate that Rajitha Uluwita who was in line to possibly achieve his best time lost control of his vehicle a few metres before the final bend and the finish line. Rajitha was lucky to escape with a few minor bruises but his vehicle was not that lucky.

There were two female competitors namely Kaushalya Ariyadasa and Shehara Jayawardena. Shehara was placed third in SLH cars up to 1618cc and Group S cars up to 1500cc events.

Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa, State Minister Kanchana Wijesekera and Matara District MP Nipuna Ranawaka were spectators at the morning’s action. 

Motorcycle events held on Saturday

Group O – Standard motorcycles over 100cc up to 125cc 4T

1 – Sanjeewa Udayakumara: 41.47 seconds

2 – Maheel Pavithra: 41.84 seconds

3 – Dilan Rathnayake: 43.43 seconds

Group M – Standard modified motorcycles over 100cc up to 125cc 2T

1 – Kushan Appuhami: 38.45 seconds

2 – Dhanushka de Silva: 40.58 seconds

3 – Gayan Priyadarshana: 40.90 seconds

Group O – Standard motorcycles 160cc 4T

1 – Prasanka Samarawickrema: 37.89 seconds

2 – Janaka Dinesh: 38.94 seconds

3 – Asanka Samarawickrema: 39.65 seconds

Group M – One make motorcycles Yamaha FZ 160

1 – Maheel Pavithra: 42.03 seconds

2 – Amila Pathum: 42.36 seconds

3 – Arun Himasha: 46.35 seconds

Group M – Modified motorcycles 250cc Supersport 4T

1 – Janaka Dinesh: 35.66 seconds

2 – Ishan Kavinda: 38.98 seconds

3 – Duminda Koswatta: 39.33 seconds

Group M – Street trail motorcycles over 175cc up to 250cc 4T

1 – Maheel Pavithra: 36.09 seconds 

2 – Supun Suraj: 37.33 seconds 

3 – Udara Chandimal: 37.34 seconds

Group M – Street trail motorcycles up to 250cc 2T

1 – S. Vasudevan: 40.05 seconds

2 – Sarath Kumarasinghe: 40.15 seconds

3 – Sivalingam Gnana Prakash: 40.87 seconds

Group M – One make motorcycles Kawasaki tracker 250cc 4T

1 – Maheel Pavithra: 36.32 seconds 

2 – Sasindu Prasansana: 36.98 seconds

3 – Supun Suraj: 37.22 seconds

Group SM – Super motard 250cc 4T

1 – Dushan Mudaluge: 33.93 seconds

2 – Isuru Madurangs: 35.48 seconds

3 – Maheel Pavithra: 36.26 seconds

Group SM – Super motard open

1 – Jaden Gunawardena: 33.63 seconds (new course record)

2 – Sangeeth Suriyage: 34.38 seconds

3 – Dushan Mudalige: 34.56 seconds

Group M – Sports touring motorcycles up to 600cc

1 – Supun Suraj: 38.62 seconds

2 – Navindu Silva: 41.75 seconds

3 – Pasan Buddika: 41.98 seconds

Group M – Sports touring motorcycle over 700cc

1 – Shashika Sandaruwan: 38.66 seconds

2 – Insaaf Bashir: 38.66 seconds

3 – B.A.E.S. Hemachandra: 41.57 seconds

Group M – Over 400cc up to 600cc 4T super sport

1 – Jaden Gunawardena: 34.84 seconds

2 – Aaron Gunawardena: 35.39 seconds

3 – Arun Himasha: 46.76 seconds

Group M – Motorcycles over 900cc up to 1000cc 4T super sport

1 – Jaden Gunawardena: 34.12 seconds

2 – Aaron Gunawardena: 34.73 seconds

3 – Reza Odayar: 35.87 seconds

Group M – Automatic transmission scooter over 90cc up to 115cc

1 – R.M. Mimshad: 49.48 seconds

2 – K.D.S. Sandaruwan: 49.96 seconds

3 – Navindu Silva: 49.97 seconds

Motor cars event held on Sunday

SL-N Ford Laser/Mazda 323 up to 1500cc

1 – Shenal Gunawardena: 40.06 seconds 

2 – Susantha Gunawardena: 40.90 seconds

3 – Mahesh Kodagoda: 41.09 seconds 

SL-N Ford Laser/Mazda 323 up to 1300cc

1 – Susantha Gunawardena: 40.08 seconds

2 – Sudath Jayathissa: 41.53 seconds 

3 – Shenal Gunawardena: 41.62 seconds 

Formula McLaren’s B1300CC EFI

1 – Kevin Perera: 38.57 seconds

2 – Ryan Grey: 41.40 seconds

3 – Shanaka Rodrigo: 42.50 seconds

Formula cars modified up to 1665cc

1 – Nadeera Jinasena: 33.17 seconds 

2 – Dilan Senevirathne: 33.51 seconds

3 – Ryan Grey: 42.50 seconds

Group T and J – Up to 5500cc

1 – Duminda Jasinghe: 44.61 seconds 

2 – Cassim Wahab: 52.54 seconds

Group T and J – Open for diesel and petrol

1 – Darin Weerasinghe: 36.48 seconds 

2 – Ishraq Wahab: 38.30 seconds 

3 – Dr. Sanjaya Sedara Senarath: 39.00 seconds

Group A – Modified cars up to 1050cc

1 – Chamika Ranathunge: 37.67 seconds 

2 – Dilupa Palliyaguru: 38.01 seconds

3 – Dilanka Wijesuriya: 38.46 seconds

Mini-7 (one make)

1 – Sandaru Weerasinghe: 39.91 seconds

2 – Neel Weerasinghe: 40.87 seconds

3 – W.N.S. Tisera: 42.25 seconds 

SLH cars up to 1618cc

1 – Randika Niroshan: 35.47 seconds

2 Irfan Fuard: 35.61 seconds 

3 – Shehara Jayawardena: 38.17 seconds

Subaru Legacy

1 – Randika Niroshan: 36.65 seconds 

2 – Hashen Peiris: 37.39 seconds

3 – Asanka Bandara: 37.04 seconds 

Mini up to 1275cc (one make)

1 – Chanaka Rathnayake: 40.76 seconds 

2 – Sandaru Weerasinghe: 41.05 seconds

3 – Gihan de Silva: 41.66 seconds 

SL GT 3500cc

1 – Ashan Silva: 31.26 seconds (New course record)

2 – Tyron Hendavitharana: 33.25 seconds 

3 – Nadeera Jinasena: 34.44 seconds

SL-E Nissan March 1000cc

1 – Daham Jayanith: 40.55 seconds

2 – Adisha Kithvith: 41 seconds 

3 – Nirosh Jeewantha: 41.69 seconds

SL-E Ford Laser/Mazda 323 up to 1300cc

1 – Thushan Madusanka: 40.64 seconds 

2 – Chamath Palliyaguru: 41.17 seconds

3 – Rashitha Pasan: 41.25 seconds 

Group S – Cars up to 1500cc

1 – Chamika Ranathunga: 40.03 seconds 

2 – Dilanka Wijesooriya: 41.02 seconds 

3 – Shehara Jayawardena: 41.75 seconds

Diesel cars open (club event)

1 – Dilupa Palliyaguru: 44.31 seconds

2 – Rajith Uluwita: 46.16 seconds

3 – Rashitha Pasan: 55.17 seconds

Special club event up to 1600cc open

1 – Javid Waham: 45.37 seconds 

Dilan Senevirathne

Ashan Silva on his way to set a new course record of 31.78 seconds

The start

Shiyan Rodrigo in his Formula McLarens EFI

Rajitha Uluwita crashed

Cars lined up

Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa and State Minister Kanchana Wijesekera watch the action at Eliyakanda yesterday morning