Mirror Magazine

Mirror Magazine

New face s at the races
Natasha Fernandopulle talks to some young racers about the adrenaline-pumping pastime they are passionate about. Onawarm Sunday morning the cars do their warm-up laps. The spectators gather bit by bit in preparation for the action ahead at the Katukurunda races. You could hear the noises of the engines being tuned and revved up as each driver prepared for the big day ahead. They all had something to prove, especially the first timers, relatively new to the racing scene, who are yet to make a mark in the arena of racing in Sri Lanka. What brought them to the Katukurunda races held last Sunday?

“I have liked cars from my childhood” said 21-year-old Niroshan Mihindukulasuriya, first time racer who decided to “try out racing.” Niroshan ended up fifth in the ‘Cars 8-10 Kg/Hp’ category. Due to his performance he was put into a higher category and was placed sixth in that.

‘Timing day’, held on the day before the official event helped him prepare for the official event. This was when he experienced, “The real feel of the event to come.” In fact he said it was more exciting than the race itself. Niroshan has not had any special training as such, but he has had a few practice runs at Katukurunda and Pannala prior to the official race.

There are risks involved when it comes to racing but he has no fear as far as his safety is concerned because he is confident driver. The one thing that worries him is his car, which he is very particular about. “My first love is cars,” he said, and that said it all!

At this point he has not completed his car but has done it up to a certain extent. The car was race tuned by Zakie Ismail. Racing is his love and his hobby, but it is an expensive one and as he put it, “My mother is my only sponsor.”

Twenty-two years old and a very confident driver, Dilan Seneviratne enthused, “It’s my dream, I love doing it!” in response to why he races. He has been driving from quite a young age and has raced before but has not done anything, “official like Katukurunda.”

Dilan’s car is a very old car, from the 1980s, but with a lot of hard work was improved in preparation for the races. “It took every bit of my savings!” said Dilan. He felt however, he had only done one percent of what he can do and that there’s still a long way to reach the standard of those of them who have made it in the racing arena.

There are obviously risks involved in the sport, but said Dilan, “it’s worth it because I love it” and at the same time he is not too bothered by the risks because he is confident of himself. On the topic of whether he has had any training he said, “No, it is pure skill!” What’s more, he really loves cars and that is what drives him to race.

His most exciting moment at Katukurunda was when he over took a car. This was the first time he did so in his life, on a racing track, officially! He did not get placed at the races, but being a first-timer, it was the experience that counted.

Twenty-four-year-old Ashan de Silva is another relatively new racer. Although he has been racing for a few years, this is just his second time at Katukurunda and is part of Dilan’s team. “I like it!” is what Ashan said when asked what drives him to race.

For him, one of the exciting moments at the races was when his car spun in the first corner and he then had to start chasing the others again. This was a challenge for the cool racer who said, “Risks don’t bother me.”

“Car crazy” Shaminda Herath (25), also a first-time racer has been in a racing environment from the age of 15. Being car crazy does not come cheap, however, and a lot of money went into bringing his car up to standard for the races. He was really thrilled when he was placed ninth in his second race. Said Shaminda, who learnt his basic techniques from his classmate, Aravinda Premadasa, “I am enthusiastic about cars.” Therefore, he did not mind spending on his car.

Shaminda and his teammates started working two weeks prior to the races. The closer it got, they would have only two hours of sleep a day. The rest of the time was spent on the car.

Last Sunday being his first time at the races, he said that it was exciting trying to stay on track and outsmart the other guys. Shaminda has always loved the idea of racing but due to various reasons he never quite got to it but this time, he felt that the time was right. As far as safety is concerned, he said, “I believe it is a relatively safe sport in a controlled environment, if you know what you are doing.”

“I love cars, I love speed and control,” – and that’s what drives him to race. First-time racers they may be, but they are all raring to go. It is evident their passion for racing will drive them to achieve the ultimate goal of a clear win.

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