Four Wheel Drive Club of Sri Lanka

Text by Darshan Maralanda, pix by Anuradha Ratnaweera

Day 3 had four special stages planned on either side of the river, where the Lankan team took on SS 13 and 14.

SS13 was a drive through a thickly wooded area and considering the 15 minute DNF and the ample debit point possibilities, the team decided to take a DNF after reaching the 10 point mark hoping to save their machine for the rest of the event.

SS14 was through a creek gully which had the competitor winching through almost a 90 degree gully wall. However, the competitors ahead had broken through and made it viable for the Lankan Patrol to winch through and successfully complete the SS within 8 minutes.

SS11 and 12 on the other side were not very fortunate for the team as the vehicle's alternator packed up and had to be repaired within the SS since no recovery could reach where the Patrol was stuck. While Arbin was busy dismantling the alternator, a Sri Lankan style lunch was cooked in the SS area itself. When the lunch was over, the vehicle was ready and had to go through winching motions of the regular run to get out of the SS.

Text by Darshan Maralanda, pix by Anuradha Ratnaweera

Lankan Team's car was ready for another day of prologue and to face special stages in the coming days ahead. The vehicle went through few changes by the request of the team to Arbin, the vehicle owner, and most of the requirements were attended to before the prologue of day two.

There were two more Prologue special stages and the Lankan team was able to finish both without any issues.

The Patrol was performing better with a softer accelerator paddle and a more responsive engine. Around 1 p.m., the convoy headed to the hilly mountain area covered with thick rain forest. The tarmac was so left behind and gravel took over, and the gravel did not last too long where the track became very muddy and passing through narrow spaces.

The campsite was approximately 3.5 hours drive on low range. The campsite was an orchard growing mangoes and rambutan, however for the competitors it was the off season to reap any benefits from this orchard.

The Lankan team setup their camp site in a secluded area with goose neck lamps demarcating their parameter. However, the rest of the camp site looked like Sanya city with so many floury cent lights powered with inverters. Also there were sound systems complimented with disco lights which were loud as the Blue Elephant disco packs.