Sri Lanka scores first podium finish in Asia-Pac Rally Championships

Sri Lanka achieved its first-ever podium finish in the overall category of the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championships (APRC) season when the Rally of Chikmagalur, India which concluded on Sunday when Shafraz Junaid and Akhry Ameer finished the rally in second runner-up position. 

The final leg of the APRC season saw Indian driver Gaurav Gill emerging victorious in a tense championship decider to retain his third APRC Championship title. This was the first podium finish by a Sri Lankan competitor in the overall category in the 30-year history of the APRC.

The Lankan duo driving a Maxxis Volkswagen Polo also won the FIA Asia Rally Cup for the APRC Rally of Chikmagalur. Sri Lanka first appeared in the APRC circuit in 2015 with Dinesh Deheragoda and Shafraz Junaid as his co-driver.

“It was a challenging three days and I think we managed man and machine well to see us through to the finish. After the shakedown we were pondering on pulling out knowing that we were the slowest car on the grid and we were not happy with its setup; but having come all the way we decided to go out there and focus on just enjoying the run. I would like to thank our sponsors, Riyaz Farook, and Dinesh Deheragoda, who paved the way for our participation,” said Shafraz Junaid for whom the result was beyond their target of finishing the rally.

“Although it is a rally dependent on technicality for the driver and challenging twist and turns for the co-driver more than speed, the lack of minimum power needed to position ourselves and slide out of the corners was an initial concern. In the end, our endurance and skill paid off to manage some suspension issues, a fuel leak and a tyre puncture through the various stages,” added co-driver Akhry Ameer on their performance.

Junaid, whose specialty in handling gravel trains first led him to the coffee estates of Chikmagalur last year, missed the podium in the lower Indian Rally Championships class by a mere few seconds. The experience seems to have enabled them to handle the more enduring 500 plus kilometers of special stages and transport stages of the APRC. The duo was backed by their local sponsors Maxxis Sri Lanka along with HTL Logistics and Contura Lanka in order to make their participation a reality.

“Shafraz and Akhry not only have been performing on Maxxis tires, but are passionate and true competitors of this sport. Their determination and sportsmanship to participate and enjoy the experience has given us no doubt that we are backing the right duo,” said Gayan Fonseka, Director of Tyre House Group, the sole agents for Maxxis tires in Sri Lanka.

Participation in the FIA APRC requires more stringent conformity to standards, regulations and above all safety. The competitors also required to pass through a comprehensive medical check-up. Their entry was endorsed by the Ceylon Motor Sports Club - the FIA representative (ASN) for Sri Lanka and acknowledged by Sri Lanka Automobile Sports.  

 “The FIA Asia Zone Development initiatives are beginning to bear fruit. As the ASN, we are happy to note that more and more Sri Lankan drivers and race officials are beginning to establish their presence in the Asian region in the different racing disciplines, be it motorcycles, karting and circuit racing. Shafraz’s achievement in rallying is yet another first in this direction,” said Niroshan Perera, Asian Zone Coordinator for the FIA.

 The APRC Coffee Day Rally of Chikmagalur 2017 was organised by the Motor Sports Club of Chikmagalur along with FIA APRC and saw a total of 46 competitors across various categories.