16th edition of the Gajaba Supercross, the annual race meet organized by the Gajaba Regiment of Sri Lanka Army alongside Sri Lanka Automobile Drivers Association (SLADA) will be held on the 27th of August at the Gajaba Race track situated in the Gajaba Regimental Headquarters in Saliyapura, Anuradhapura with the qualification events taking place on the 26th.
The pioneer in Sri Lankan Motor racing, Late Maj. Gen Gamini Gunasekara, the man responsible for gifting the first and the most popular race meet of the Country – Fox hill Supercross, was a proud son of the Gajaba regiment. Having witnessed the interest that Fox hill created amongst the motor sporting enthusiasts in the country, Maj. Gen Gunasekara ably assisted by three young captains at the time arranged for the legendary Hans Ralph Karpinski to design a track at the Gajaba regimental headquarters in Saliyapura.
Interestingly the current Adjutant General of Sri Lank Army and Colonel of the Gajaba regiment Maj. Gen Shavendra Silva was one of the young captains that assisted in initiating the inaugural race meet and will be heading this year’s event as the Chairman of the steering committee of the meet. This race meet generates much needed funds to improve the welfare facilities of the differently abled and able soldiers as well as to improve the infrastructure facilities of the Gajaba regiment whilst popularizing motorsport in the North Central Province.
This year, a record number of 109 cars and 134 motorcycles have submitted their entries and the organizers have received 16 entries for the headline act SL-GT Cars up to 3500cc event commonly referred to as the Super Car event. Due to the increased turnout in the SL GT event there will be two preliminary races which will select the top 12 contenders for the Grand Finale. 24 events have been confirmed and will comprise of 12 car races and 12 bike events.
There will be a new rolling trophy that will be introduced this year for the overall winner in the Group M Supermotard event and will be named after the Motor racing legend Ananda Wedisinghe who passed away earlier this year having suffered injuries while competing in the Nuwara Eliya road race. Maj. Gen Silva also stated that a stand at the Gajaba race complex will also be named after the motor cycling legend that has done yeoman service to the sport.
Considered as one of the fastest tracks in the Island the anticlockwise Gajaba race track is a crowd favourite of the country for the specialty of being able to observe the happenings of the entire race from any point which delivers a complete experience for the spectators. This race meet will also work as the third round of the 5 round CEAT SLADA championship.
Stay tuned to ThePapare.com as we will keep you updated on the happenings of this prestigious meet through the qualification to the final of the race day.
