IAME Series ignites Sri Lanka together with SpeedBay Bandaragama
View(s):The internationally recognised IAME Karting Series got underway at the SpeedBay Circuit, Bandaragama, with the inaugural round of the Sri Lankan Championship. With a total of four rounds scheduled to take place in 2025, the prestigious global karting league promises world-class racing back to local soil after the X30 Asia Cup in 2018.
IAME’s presence in the world of karting is unparalleled, with over 190 national events annually, more than 45 international factory events, and over 135 partnered global races. Their popular X30 engine classes are designed to nurture young racing talent and are used by drivers of all ages globally. The launch of the IAME Series in Sri Lanka marks a significant milestone in the development of grassroots motorsports in the country, providing local drivers with a valuable opportunity to compete on an international platform.
With the first round of the IAME Series concluded earlier this month at SpeedBay Bandaragama, anticipation is already building for Round 2, scheduled for May 31. Registrations are open over the counter at the Bandaragama circuit and closes on May 24.
The champions of the series will receive free entry to the IAME World Finals, one of the most prestigious karting competitions on the global stage, offering them the chance to compete against the best in the world.
The inaugural round was held on May 3 at the Bandaragama circuit, with the championship set to unfold over a total of four rounds at this state-of-the-art venue, with categories spanning Cadet, Junior, Senior, and Master.
In the Junior Category, Race 1 saw Tehan Amarasiree claim victory with the best lap of 54.508 seconds, closely followed by Aneeq Jamaldeen and Sahiru Nemika, followed by Kaveen Rajapaksa and Sorayah Wahab in the top five. In Race 2, Kaveen Rajapaksa claimed first place with a best lap of 54.655 seconds, Tehan Amarasiree and Aneeq Jamaldeen completed the podium.
The Senior and Master Category was marked by fierce competition, with Seshaan Gunasekera winning both first and second races with the best lap time of 53.295 seconds. The Race 1 podium featured Ryan Gunawardhana, and Anish Ranasinghe in second and third, respectively. Race 2 saw the pair swap places, with Ranasinghe clinching second and Gunawardhana third.
Among the Masters, Zhao Kang set a time of 55.743, winning his class. Other highlights of the Senior class included intense battles between Thiyago Pereira, Saurika Livindu, Avishka Premadasa, and Mathew Karunaratne. In the Cadet Category, Hakam Ossen clocked 1:00.527 in Race 1 and 1:00.721 in Race 2, consistently ahead of Lenon Bartschi.
“We are thrilled to bring IAME to Sri Lanka and take Sri Lanka to the next level. This marks a key milestone as we extend our presence globally. The consistent activities last year have laid the foundation for even greater collaborations, and IAME is one such exciting venture. We look forward to raising the bar of Sri Lankan motorsports,” said Buddhima Atapattu, Deputy General Manager at David Pieris Group.
While IAME took centre stage, the Yamaha KT100 and 6-Hour Endurance races added another layer of excitement at which, Access Motors – Spark Racing emerged victorious. SpeedBay is leading the local charge in grassroots motorsport, and with IAME now firmly planted in Sri Lanka, the future of Sri Lankan racing has never looked more exciting. SpeedBay is owned and operated by David Pieris Racing and Leisure, the motorsport arm of David Pieris Group, which is fast becoming the epicentre for competitive racing in Sri Lanka. The championship rounds are run in collaboration with Ceylon Motor Sports Club.