
Deputy Chief Marketing Officer SLTMobitel Rohana Ellawala (third from left) presenting the sponsorship of the SLTMobitel Speed-up racing meet to the president of Sri Lanka Automobile Sports Ashhar Hameem. Also in the picture are secretary Organizing Committee retired Wing Commander Jaliya Jayasekera and Clerk of the Course for the Meet Kalim Iqbal. (Picture by Sulochana Gamage)
SLT-Mobitel presented its sponsorship of the Mobitel Speed-up motor racing meet organised by Sri Lanka Automobile Sports (SLAS) at a ceremony held at the National Olympic House Auditorium on Monday.
President of SLAS, Ashhar Hameen addressing the gathering said that SLT-Mobitel has been the sponsor for many racing events in Sri Lanka and with the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic the racing fraternity was completely out of the track for a period of nearly two years.
“At such a difficult time SLT-Mobitel has once again come forward to sponsor the event in a grand manner,” said Hameem. “If not for their kind gesture SLAS would not have made this event become a success.”
Explaining the event he said that the Organising Committee had to reduce the number of events from ten to eight.
Though it was reduced the number of entries received up to the closing date stands at 129 drivers who have confirmed their participation.
An unexpected number of entries have been received for the SL-E and SL-H Ford Laser cars amounting to 29 entries. Meanwhile for SL-GT cars up to 3500cc there are 17 drivers who have forwarded their entries. With the number of entries for Ford Laser events increasing the organisers have decided to run two races classifying them into novices and seniors.
Deputy Chief Marketing Officer SLT-Mobitel, Rohana Ellawala said that it was a pleasure to be involved in a great sport that attracts a huge number of motor racing fans from all parts of the country.
He said though it is a fan-based event, this year the organisers have been compelled to limit the number of spectators as they have to comply with health regulations.
According to the organizers all leading drivers such as Ashan Silva, Ushan Perera and Darin Weerasinghe are expected to compete in the SL-GT Super Cars 3500cc class making it a much looked forward to event. Meanwhile the SL-E and SL-H Honda cars event too will be fought between top drivers of the calibre of Irfan Fuard and Zaakir Wahab and the only woman driver Shehara de Silva. The races will be telecast live on Peo TV and the Media partner for the event Motor Sports network’s YouTube channel from 9 am.