Sanjaya and Naveen – the extreme talent blend

The experience of Indika Sanjaya and the expertise of his co-driver Naveen Marapana outsmarted other blends of extreme drivers to pocket the Extreme Class title in the Commando 4x4 Challenge 2015 held at the Sri Lanka Army Commando Regiment Training Ground in Kuda Oya last weekend.

Sanjaya and Marapana won the Extreme Class with 480 points ahead of them as Shihara Thilina and his co-driver Thusitha Sri Kumara emerged runners-up with 420 points. The third place went to A.B.D. Nissanka and his co-driver A.B.C. Madushanka, who gathered 411 points.

The Standard Class was won by Indika Abeyratne and his co-driver Asanka Tennakoon. They took 2:26.37 minutes to complete the course, slightly better than the combination of M.A.R.C. Fernando and his co-driver Shamila Fernando, who clocked 2:28.19 minutes. A.C.R. Fernando and D.S. Bandara finished at third with a timing of 2:43.74 minutes.

The Modified Class race was won by Randima Attygalle and Charith Liyanage who clocked 3:04.58 minutes. Asanka Jayatilleke and Nishantha Ratnayake had a timing of 3:07.47 minutes to finish at second while Saman and Dinesh Appuhamy finished at third after clocking 3:24.48 minutes.

The event also featured a race for the Safari Jeep owners, which was won by Chaminda Weerasuriya and Sajith Sandaruwan. They clocked 2:43.77 minutes to take the top spot. Special awards for the youngest driver and co-driver were presented and they were claimed by Praneeth Manamperi and Akila Silva respectively.

Overall 29 teams competed in the event in three classes – eight from the Extreme, 12 from Standard and nine from Modified. The event was organised for the second successive year by the Sri Lanka Commando Regiment and Nissan Patrol 4x4 Club. Ceypetco and CEAT came forward to sponsor the event.