4x4 Challenge, 2006
The 4x4 Challenge 2006 was successfully worked off from the 1st to the 4th December 2006 in Daraniyagala. 19 competitors took part out of the 20 registered. This year the Four Wheel Drive Club (FWDC) with the assistance of SLARDAR organised an event with variety. A combination of rally driving and obstacle driving was introduced to the competitors for the first time in the event history.
The 
first stage was a TSD (Time/Speed/Distance) rally plotted along 35km of off-road trails. The competitors had to tackle this stage during the night, which commenced from Kithulgala. Each competitor was given a set of instructions with waypoints to the finish line. FWDC marshals were placed along the track to observe any offenders of the TSD. The finish line was at Daraniyagala, where the competitors had to put up their own camp and prepare for the next two days of competition.
A firm favorite for the TSD, veteran rally driver Pubudu Wickrama of SLARDAR with his trusty Landcruiser BJ40 took part and performed well in the stage. Surprisingly, all novices to the TSD stage also performed extremely well without getting lost on their way in reading the map and instructions given.
Day 
2 saw all 19 competitors getting ready for the four Special Stages (SS) that were designed to simulate some extreme conditions of off-roading. These stages were aptly called “Deep River”, “River Wild”, “Bogg Hill” and “Excavator Hill”. Competitors had to tackle each obstacle continuously. Veteran off-road drivers were put to the test by some of the more new entries in the 4x4 scene. One such competitor was Amal Wijeyrathne in his brand new Jeep Wrangler being one of the fastest up Bogg Hill taking most of the experienced drivers by surprise. Though having DNFs (Did Not Finish) both Luxman and Saumy (novices) performed well in trying to achieve their targets of finishing. Themiya Abeywickarama, Deepthi Perera and Roshan Ratnayake also displayed their experiences at all these stages.
Dawning 
of Day 3, the competitors were convoyed to Maliboda for the next Special Stages. Three stages were to be worked off on a rotational basis where teams of competitors were broken up to compete at each stage and then were transferred to the next. The weather was an uninvited guest that day when rain started to deteriorate SS1 which was a deep marsh area specifically designed to simulate real life “getting stuck in the mud” scenario. SS1 then had to be cancelled with only 4-5 competitors battling to get through. It was a disappointment to see Saranga Gunawardene, a favorite poised to perform well had to give up hopes of completing the event due to various problems with his Toyota 4x4 at SS1. SS2 also had a victim to claim as Ranga in a modified Range Rover experienced mechanical failure and had to be recovered out by the marshals. SS3 was nicknamed “Rock and Rolling” by the marshals as it was the obstacle competitors had to put the most of the work into.
An assortment of off-road competition prepared vehicles entered this year’s 4x4 Challenge including the popular Nissan Patrols, Land Rovers, Mitsubishi’s and the new Petrol driven Jeep Wranglers. Competition levels were also on high gear as the 4x4 Challenge was organised at a time when the off roading community was starved for action. Veteran drivers Indika Sanjaya and Osanda Maligaspe missed Sri Lanka’s premier 4x4 event as they were in Malaysia competing in the Rain Forest Challenge during the same time.
The awards ceremony was held on the 9th December 2006 at Austasia sports complex where the winners were announced, The evening turned out to be a great occasion for all the competitors as the there was live music and DJ Music provided along with a video wall that displayed the challenge clippings. The winners table is a as follows.
Overall Standing
- Winner: Amal Wickramarachchi
- 1st Runner up: Amal Wijeratne / Prashan Wijenayake
- 2nd Runner up: Pubudu Wickrama / Praveen Halwathura
Stage Winners
- SS-1: Suresh Chathuranga
- SS-2: Amal Wickramarchchi
- SS-3: Amal Wijeratne
- SS-4: Ajith Fernando
- SS-5: Amal Wickramarchchi
- SS-6: Deepthi Perera
Special appreciation for the sponsors promoting the 4x4 sport in the country - Red Bull, Jeep Division of Dimo’s, CIFL, Aspic, Daily Mirror, Outdoorsman making this year’s event a reality. The track was specially designed at Aspic Plantations with their staff’s assistance, which famed 4x4 Challenge organised by the FWDC. Special thank you to all the Competitors, Critics, Spectators and to all “Those Who Dared” to make Sri Lanka’s premier off – road event – “4x4 Challenge 2006” a roaring success.