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They set the track ablaze
AMRC Speed 2004 at Pannala
By M. Shamil Amit
No quarters asked none given. The AMRC Speed 2004 proved at a meet of this nature finally it is the skills that mottered at Pannala last Sunday. While the tyres set the track ablaze, all actions in relation to the meet went on with clock like precision.

The day's proceedings began with the event for Group SLN Ford Laser/Mazda 323 for which two events were held. There were 12 starters with Dilshard Hamdoon second in pole position taking an early lead which he maintained till the finish to take the race comfortably from Sajaad Zuhair and Sisira Gunasekera. Dilshard repeated the feat in the second leg of this race with again Sajaad and Sisira in second and third.

The Mini 1000cc event which was the second race scheduled, saw 11 vehicles lined up. Mini specialist Rohith de Silva in his Rover Mini 1050 had no difficulty in brushing off the challenge of Samantha Gunawardena and K. Parameshwaran in winning the event.

The third event for Group SLN cars 10kg/hp upto 12kg/hp run over ten laps was a well contested one with Nihal Premasiri in the lead for well over eight laps before being overtaken by a well determined Mansur Hassen who went on to win the race.

The Group SLA Super Car event the much awaited event of the day turned out to be sizzler. This was also a two leg event. Dilantha Malagamuwa coming all the way from Japan (where he is based now) to brush shoulders with some of the top drivers in the local circuit. He sped off like a bullet in his Toyata Celic 2000 kept the lead till the third round but was rather unfortunate as he had to step down due to mechanical failures. From there on it was a ding dong battle between Dinesh Deheragoda and Riyaz Farook with ultimately Dinesh coming out best with Riyaz in second and Rizvi Farook following him.

But Riyaz took sweet revenge in the second leg, though Dinesh had a better pole position, Riyaz getting a fine start took the lead and how ever much Dinesh tried to close in he was unable to get near Riyaz who went on to win the race with Nigel Perera in third place. Another breathtaking event of the day was the four Formula events (two pre-85 and two post 85). Veteran Rohan de Silva was unlucky to lose the first leg of the post-85 Formula race which was won by Rizvi Farook with Rohan second and Dilshard Hamdoon third.

Rohan came back to take the second leg of this event pushing Rizvi Farook to second spot and Shasika Dias in third. The top lady driver of Sri Lanka Shehara de Silva daughter of veteran Rohan put her male counterparts to shame when she finished a credible second to S.A. Harsha with Niroshan Pereira in third place.Shehara nearly won the second leg of this event as she was leading for well over seven laps before her vehicle skidded off the track preventing further participation. S.A,. Harsha went on to win with Niroshan in second place.

The only novices event of the day for Cars upto 1400cc was won by Randhika Niroshan with Kirinda Lalin Nilantha second and the only other lady rider to participate S.A. Lakshika (daughter of ace driver S.A. Amarasiri) in third. The other drivers who came on top were U.C. Perera in the Group SLN 12kg/hp upto 14kg/hp. Carmen Thenuwara was successful in both the Group FIA Super Car events and Sheran Fernando took the Group SLN 6kg/hp upto 10kg/hp event.

As they said they did it. Prior to the meet the AMRC officials said that they are hoping to conduct a meet in a very professional manner and they did it to the very word of that statement. The inaugural motor racing organized by AMRC -'the AMRC Speed 2004' was a resounding success.

Ten top figures in the motor racing arena were given all the backing by another club the 'Motor Racing Association' (MRA) along with other experienced officials who knew what racing was all about. The meet began at 10.00 a.m. and ended sharp at 2.00 p.m. which were the scheduled times.

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