Taprobana 4x4 Challenge 2009 All Set To Go ……… At Kalpitiya

[Velocity]

Dates; Flag off 28th October, 8 pm at Puttalam Town

Grand Finale; 1st November at Kandakuliya Beach from 9am

The final scrutinising of the “Extreme” class competitors for this year’s toughest 4x4 adventure

event took place on the 17th of October at Toyota Plaza Wattala. Here the Scrutinisers inspected

the working order of the 4x4, winch, brake systems, recovery gear and other safety related aspects

prior facing yet another tough terrain that competitors will be battling out for supremacy.

With the dawn of peace, Sri Lanka’s Premier 4x4 event organized by The Four Wheel Drive Club –

Sri Lanka (FWDC) for the Sixth consecutive year is now renamed as “Taprobana 4x4 Challenge” to

promote the Sri Lankan Paradise to rest of the world and attract many International 4x4 competitors to explore our country. This year’s event is set to take place from 28th October to 1st November 2009 where the Grand Finale will take place in Kandakuliya Beach including a Standard Class 4x4 event.

Twenty Teams have registered for the Extreme Class event including two foreign teams from India driving Toyota Land Cruisers. All famous competitors from Sri Lanka including Indika Sanjaya, Osanda Maligaspe, Suresh Chathuranga in their Land Rovers, Deepthi Perera, Sam Chandrasoma in their Jeep Wranglers, Ravindra Rathnasiri in his Jeep CJ, Veteran Motor Racing Drivers Nishan Wasalatantri & Pubudu Wickrama, Saranga Gunawardena, Denson Kumara, Roshan Rathnayake, Roshan Amarasinghe, Amal Wijeyeratne in their Toyota 4x4s, Shenal Fernando in his Mitsubishi will be eying for podium finishes in their highly modified vehicles.

The “Taprobana Challenge” is the second stage of the FWDC Championship program. The team that finishes with the highest points in the championship will be honored to represent the National Flag at one of the world’s most challenging 4x4 events, “Rain Forest Challenge (RFC) – 2009” in Johor, Malaysia during December this year. The FWDC will extend their full sponsorship to this year’s Champions covering all the costs including entry fees to RFC, return air tickets for the team, cost of vehicle transportation to Malaysia etc.

Championship Points so far;

Com. No.

Competitor Name (Vehicle)

Total Points

Position

1

Indika Sanjaya / Naveen Marapana (Land Rover)

712.00

1

9

Sam Chandrasoma / Amal Wickramarachchi (Jeep Wrangler)

661.00

2

10

Deepthi Perera / Nishantha Ranasinghe (Jeep Wrangler)

636.00

3

7

Suresh Chaturanga / Ravindra Sanjeewa (Range Rover)

617.00

4

19

Ranjan Fernando / Anton Fernando (Toyota)

594.00

5

Top in the Points Table so far are Indika Sanjaya & Naveen Marapana, an experienced duo dominating the local 4x4 scene since 2004 in their modified Land Rover. In second place trailing with 51 Points is Sam Chandrasoma & Amal Wickramrachchi who debut in 2007 in their D*MO backed Jeep Wrangler. Third place is held by Deepthi Perera & Nishantha Ranasinghe having to catch-up 76 points in their heavily modified Jeep Wrangler. With Ranjan Fernando stepping out of the competition at 118 points shy of the top slot, Suresh Chaturanga will start with 95 points behind the leader at Fourth.

[MasterDon]

i'll be around that part of the island this weekend...will drop by on first ...would make a nice outing

any idea what time it will finish at kandakuliya?...or is it an all day event?

[Velocity]

it will be around 9am bro.

[miniace]

I'll be there on 29th only.

MINIACE