Nippon Paints sponsored ’Katukurunda Speed 2023’ kicks off today

Title sponsors – Nippon Paint (from left): Nippon Racing Brand Ambassador Ushan Perera, SLAS Secretary Shehan Tissera, President Ashhar Hameem, Nippon Paints Director/General Manager Nemantha Abeysinghe, and SLAS Treasurer Upulwan Serasinghe

The Nippon Paint Katukurunda Speed 2023 organised by Sri Lanka Automobile Sports (SLAS), the governing body for motorsports in Sri Lanka for the 3rd consecutive year, at Katukurunda will take place in 2 and 3 December with the cream of Sri Lanka’s four-wheeled racing talent do battle across 16 races.

The now seasonal event has gone from strength to strength and a win at this meet has become a much-sought after prize in the local motorsports fraternity.

Organised by the 10-member clubs of SLAS, the event is backed by several of Sri Lanka’s premier corporates, headlined by title sponsor Nippon Paints.

Nippon Paints General Manager Nemantha Abeysinhe said: “We are very happy to return as title sponsor of the Nippon Paint Katukurunda Speed 2023 races, and to continue our support of motorsport in Sri Lanka. With huge spectator interest in this meet, both in person and across the live coverage, this is another excellent opportunity to highlight our world-class paints while continuing to build relationships with racing fans of all ages. We look forward to another fantastic weekend of racing on 2 and 3 December.”

The meet is to be conducted exclusively for cars, and while spectator tickets are selling out fast, the event will be broadcast nationally on the Independent Television Network’s Vasantham TV channel, plus live-streamed in high-definition on YouTube and Facebook. Broadcast partner Motor Sports Network once again comes on board with a high-quality live production in addition to race management support.

SLAS President Ashhar Hameem said: “For the 3rd year running we are happy to see all the member clubs come together to put on a great day of racing for our drivers. We are especially thankful to Nippon Paints and our other sponsors for their support – their renewed participation is a testament to the strength of motor racing in Sri Lanka and the value it creates. We are also proud to take our fantastic product to all corners of the country on a Tamil-language channel, with Tamil-language race summaries to be made after every race. Hopefully another exciting day of racing can inspire the next generation of drivers, engineers, officials, and fans.”

SLAS and its member clubs are hopeful that improved domestic conditions will see a return of a full calendar of racing in 2024. With several new developments for motorsports planned, the Association will be working closely with the relevant ministries and other stakeholders to announce plans in the near future.

Practice and qualifying is scheduled for 2 December, with the live coverage of the meet commencing at 8:30 a.m. on 3 December on ITN/Vasantham, MSN Live, YouTube, Facebook, PEO TV Event TV Channel 20, Derana YouTube, Ada Derana (updates), and SLAS Facebook.

Other sponsors – National Lotteries Board, Finland Holdings, SLT-Mobitel, Exide, Wurth Lanka, Pink Auto Shop, GITI Tyre, Totachi, Fazaal Ceramic, ShakTea, Gills, I Grid, Toptul, Dealo, Freelan, Recovery Partner How To Drive, Digital Partner Tudo.LK, QR Partner GlenTech and media partner, Motor Sports Network.