Ashan Silva in seventh heaven after renewing Mahagastota record
Outwitting rest of the prominent names, Ashan Silva, the title holder of Mahagastota Hill Climb in Cars events, renewed the track record in the 87th edition of the motorsport event that annually heralds the April Holiday Season in Nuwara Eliya.
While Silva claimed the title for the best driver Jaden Gunawardene bagged the award for the best rider at the oldest Hill Climb and motorsport event of Sri Lanka.
Competing in the SL-GT up to 3500cc class, Silva clocked 31.699 seconds to complete the course, as he bettered the existing timing of 32.643 seconds set in 2017 in the same event category.
Dinesh Jayawardena, who clocked 34.013 seconds in the SL-GT up to 3500cc class, was placed second while Nadeera Jinasena, who clocked 34.367 seconds in the Formula McLarens up to 1665cc class, was placed third.
Young Gunawardene, who competed in the Super Motard event, clocked 34.156 seconds to own the course record set by Ananda Sampath set in 2017 with a timing of 33.936 seconds. The second best timing in motorbikes was also recorded by Gunawardene, who clocked 34.166 seconds in the Class M up to 600cc Modified and Standard event. His brother Aaron Gunawardene was placed third after clocking 34.201 seconds competing in the same class.
Dhammika Peiris, Viren Boteju and Sandaru Weerasinghe recorded two wins each in the motor car events while Jaden Gunawardene, Heshan Pasindu and Sarath Kumarasiri claimed double wins in motorbike events.
The event was organised and conducted by Ceylon Motor Sport Club, is held annual on a course created within the Mahagastota Tea Estate with a distance of 617 metres. The two-day event included 14 motor car events and 16 motorbike events where 150 top drivers and riders competed.