The Jeep SLARDAR 1000 motor rally saw its conclusion of the initial leg last Sunday with Samin Attanayake and Rahal Uluwita emerging as the champion duo.
Defending champion Samin Attanayake and co-driver Rahal Uluwita broke the hoodoo of ‘winners never win again’ when they emerged victorious once again. The pair finished the time-speed-distance (TSD) arrange rally with 112 debits in their Toyota Bigfoot single cab. The hardest test for man and machine, covering about 850 km, had never seen a rehash triumph subsequent to 1987, until this year, in its tenth edition.
Hot title contenders Shafraz Junaid and co-driver Akhry Ameer in their Nissan Datsun cab, having given an intense challenge, ended as runners-up with 142 debits.
New contestants to reviving, Sabry Salam and Ahamed Ashard, having been seeded number 27, made a predictable run and finished as 2nd runners-up with 178 debits, astonishing a large number of the veterans.
The event was a nail-biting experience for the participants as the drivers shocked one another in the distinctive phases of the rally, rising as stage champs and making ties for placings. Be that as it may, the lead drivers Attanayake and Junaid demonstrated that experience and consistency is critical to stay in front of the pack.
Similarly Team Emcees including drivers Nisal Hettiarachchi, Asitha Gamlath and Asanka Ranawana won the group honor with their steady exhibitions in the center rankings.
The three-day five-stage venture started at the DIMO showroom; Dimo being the sponsors of the event heading towards Kurunegala. The second stage initiated following a two hour service end and continued through the foggy streets of the Knuckles mountain extent to end at Kandy for a well-earned rest.
The drivers from that point proceeded with their test in the twisty streets of Galaha and Deltota before coming back to Kandy for yet another service halt. The last two stages saw the rally continuing through to Talduwa and back to Colombo for its completion. The drivers’ aptitudes were dispensed to a blend of rock and landing area surfaces from level street to tiresome domain street conditions.
The SLARDAR 1000 national title rally organized by the Sri Lanka Association of Racing Drivers and Riders has been running since 1987 drawing a participation of around 30 contenders this year.
