Kandy night races to flag off this Saturday

Tuesday, 24 June 2014 02:13 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

By Malik Gunatilleke The ‘Kandy Speed @ Night 2014’ motorcar and motorcycle night races will commence on Saturday (28 June) in the hill capital of Kandy for the third year, with qualifying rounds taking place on 27 June. The event is a tarmac road race meet organised by Carlton Motor Sports Club in conjunction with the Kandy Off-Road & Adventure Club (KORAC), Asian Motor Racing Club (AMRC), and the Sri Lanka Association of Racing Drivers & Riders. Speaking at the launch event held yesterday in Colombo, President of the Carlton Motor Sports Club (CMSC) Dinesh Jayawardana stated that the circuit for the 2014 night races was a new course that had not been used for the previous races. The new circuit, which was unveiled at the event, will start off opposite the Kandy Police Station and will run past the Police Quarters, along the Bogambara Prison walls and the Kandy Fire Brigade before heading past the central market, Torrington and finally along the park back towards the finish line.

Top Sri Lankan Racer Ishraq Wahab praised the event’s organisers for bringing night races to Sri Lanka, stating that night races had a very distinct glamour. “Racing at night through a city centre has a very glamorous appeal to it. It also allows the public easy access to these races,” he stated. Wahab said that as a racer, street circuits require more discipline and skill as it involves a wider margin for error. “These circuits separate the good drivers from the great drivers. The public also know this which is why they flock to these events,” he added. Motorcycle Racer Maduranga Caldera, speaking at the event launch, also expressed his excitement, claiming that city circuits pose an even greater challenge to two-wheel racing. Highlighting the special safety measures that have been taken for the event, Secretary of the CMSC (Retd) Wing Commander Jaliya Jayasekara said that 50,000 sandbags had been used to erect barriers while 10-foot high chain-link fences had been set up to protect spectators and drivers. A special traffic plan will also be implemented by the Kandy Police during the races. He noted that the event would not pose an obstruction to any residents of businesses in the area with a special traffic plan to be implemented by the Kandy Police providing alternate routes to the public. The Kandy night races are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. on 28 June and conclude by midnight. Qualifying rounds will take place the previous night (27) beginning at 8 p.m. Meanwhile, the general public will be able to view the races from designated spectator areas along the circuit while tickets will be priced at Rs. 100.

Chief Prelates want Kandy night races cancelled

The Chief Prelates of the Kandy chapters have written to President Mahinda Rajapaksa urging him to cancel the night road races scheduled to take place next weekend. In the letter to the President, the Chief Prelates (Mahanayake) of the Malwattu, Asgiriya, Amarapura and Ramanya chapters, said that allowing the night race to go ahead will harm the sacred nature of Kandy City. The Chief Prelates noted that Kandy is recognised the world over and in Sri Lanka for the sacred Temple of the Tooth and other temples in the area. The Prelates also recalled that the area is recognised as a world heritage site and so the races scheduled to be held on 27 and 28 June should be cancelled. (Colombo Gazette)