‘It felt like home’
There was always passion for motorsports, but to see them support me especially was so exciting - Yevan Ranasinghe David
Yevan, nicknamed the ‘Sri Lankan Lion’ following his success at last year’s 2025 Euroformula Open as the vice-champion, driving for Team Motopark, will feature in a full FIA Formula 3 season with AIX Racing, becoming the first from the Island nation to enter the series. The ongoing four-round Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy, New Zealand’s premier motorsport event, now in its 21st edition, will be a perfect prelude to his Formula 3 debut later this March alongside the Australia Grand Prix. By the end of three rounds in New Zealand so far, Yevan was placed 12th among 20 competitors, out of nearly a half are to make their F3 debut in two months.
“We had nine of the F3 drivers here in the grid. That’s already a third of the F3 lineup, I know how competitive F3 is going to be. The experience here in New Zealand, for me personally, is great,” Yevan told reporters.
The first Sri Lankan to compete in New Zealand, Yevan began his southern hemisphere campaign with the opening round of the Formula Regional Oceania Trophy at Hampton Downs International Motorsport Park on January 10 and 11, where he recorded a P8, P6 and P7 before being forced to retire in the final race. At Taupo International Motorsport Park in Waikato from January 16 to 18, Yevan slid back a bit to record P11, P18, P8 and P13 finishes.
His outing at Teretonga Raceway, Invercargill, in the Southland District had an alarming start for Yevan, who was forced to retire for the second time in the Formula Regional Oceania Trophy. But his comeback in the second race of the third round was an impressive P9, only to be followed with a race cancelation due to bad weather. Yet, in the fourth race the Sri Lankan racing sensation impressed with his best outcome so far, a P5.
“As much as the grid is competitive, I’m always comparing to myself, what I’m capable of, focusing on where I can improve, of course compared to others, but also compared to what I’m capable of,” Yevan added.
“If I made four mistakes in a session, I look at how to make it three and then two and just keep decreasing. That’s the mentality I have, so as much it’s competitive, I always focus on myself and see how I can improve myself before looking at anyone else,” the 18-year-old elaborated on how the experience in New Zealand is helping him shape up for F3 challenges.
True to his words and commitment, Yevan made a remarkable comeback in the final round, which coincided with the 70th New Zealand Grand Prix at Highlands International Motorsport Park from January 30 to February 1. As he anticipated Yevan obviously looked at making a lasting impression, especially in front of a band of Sri Lankan supporters that has grown in numbers since day one.
By the end of the fourth and final round, Yevan had moved up to overall 10th with an impressive tally of 152 points, making P8, P9, P9 and P13 positions in the four races held across three days. Marking a perfect end to his New Zealand venture, Yevan would have definitely made his followers proud of being a Sri Lankan, a fan base of followers, which began with a few at Hampton Downs, and grew larger across his adventurous tour.
“I came to New Zealand with no such expectations, only hoping to see a few. But to have that many of Sri Lankans here, and a whole community that grew every week, I’m overly impressed and humbled. It felt like home,” flattered by the passionate backing of his Sri Lankan followers in New Zealand, Yevan said.
“There’s a lot of passion, they just wanted to support, and it was so unbelievable. I was so grateful for that. There was always passion for motorsports, but to see them support me especially was so exciting.”
For a country that’s totally ruled by the craze to its cricket at global stage, Yevan could fill a missing link that would make every Sri Lankan a true sports lover with the beginning of the Formula 1 season in March. With Yevan’s inclusion in 10 out of the 24 F1 racedays, Sri Lanka could witness a shift in loyalty from cricket to other sports, notably motorsports, all because of how a passionate juvenile put his heart and sweat out there on the racetrack to prove a point.