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Pasindu, Rohith thumbs up at Pannala
M. Shamil Amit reporting from Pannala
Young Pasindu Peiris of motorcross fame stole the show at the AMRC speed 2005 race which was held at the Pannala International Racing track yesterday.

Pasindu driving his first ever motor car event which was for Novices drove his Mazda 323 to a comfortable win over Chamil Perera. Lying second in place at the start of the six lap event and being led by Chamil and Shanil Ruwanwella he took the lead at the fourth lap and maintained it till the end of the race.

The races began sharp at 2.00 p.m. with the two events being run concurrently-the Mini 1000cc and the Nissan March 1000cc run over 12 laps. The Mini event was easily won by Dilshan Bandaranayake while the Nissan March went to experienced campaigner Shantha Suraweera.

The next event for Ford/Laser/Mazda 1500cc competed by over ten drivers went to Chaminda Weerasuriya from Dilshard Hamdoon. The SLN 10-12 kg/hp and over 12kg/hp events also run concurrently were won by Sajaad Zuhair and Maj. Harsha Wijetunge respectively.

Rohith de Silva in his Mini Petco recorded a thrilling win in the 12 lap SLA Cars upto 1050cc which went to the wire. Rohitha having taken the initial lead from the start was overtaken midway in the race but fought his way to pip Anil Jayakody at the finish. S.A. Duminda took the SLA Cars 1050-1400 cc event from experience driver Rameez Mahmoor.

The two Formula Ford events one of the much looked forward to events for the day run concurrently was a thriller which kept the crowd on their toes. With top drivers like Rohan de Silva who has the honour of having run the 1.67km race track in less than a minute, Romani de Silva, Dinesh Jayawardena, Rizvi Farook in the post 85 and Ravi Mayadunne, S.A. Harsha and lady driver Shehara de Silva in the pre85 was definitely going to be a thriller.

In a ding-dong battle of the post 85 event Romani de Silva got the better of Dinesh Jayawardena while Ravi Mayadunne who was back in the track after a lapse of nearly one year took the pre 85 event from lady driver Shehara de Silva.

Meanwhile Dinesh Jayawardena who was pushed to second place in the previous race made amends when he took the FIA N Cars 1600 event with ease, winning the race by a considerable lead from Nadeera Jinasena. Janaka Dias took the SLN Cars 8-10kg/hp event from Siddi Farook.

Veteran Rohan de Silva who was not successful in the Formula event, though winning the SLS Cars upto 1600 event had to fight for the win with second placed Siddi Farook in his locally assembled Westfield taking the lead at the halfway stage before being beaten by Rohan.

The much looked forward for the day which was the two Super car events ran concurrently. Though ace driver Aravinda Premadasa was missing there was a host of top drivers of the calibre of Dilantha Malagamuwa who is based in Japan coming down specially to participate in this event, Reyaz Farook, Rizvi Farook and Carmen Thenuwara in the SA !600-3500cc event and Dinesh Deheragoda along with other top drivers in the FIA-N Cars 1600-3500cc event.

Malagamuwa succeeded in winning his event and was the only competitor to complete it while Deheragoda in his new Mitsubishi Evolution IX had no one to challenge him winning his event with the minimum of fuss.

Hats off to Asian Motor Racing Club the newest club, for a well conducted motor racing event. As told the meet started and concluded at the scheduled time. This is a example which the other organizers should take note of. Everything done there was done in a professional way leaving no room for anyone to complain. Well done keep it up AMRC.

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