Four Wheel Drive Club of Sri Lanka

Indika & Naveen wins Taprobana 4x4 Challenge 2009 & qualifies to represent Sri Lanka at RFC 2009

Veteran 4x4 Driver Indika Sanjaya & his Co-Driver Naveen Marapana fought their way up the championship ladder by comprehensively winning the “Taprobana 4x4 Challenge 2009” held in the Puttalam District from 28^th October to 1^st November.  This duo now qualifies to represent Sri Lanka as Champion 4x4 Driver & Co – Driver in one of the most challenging annual International 4x4 events, Rain Forest Challenge (RFC) of Malaysia in Johor during this December.   The Four Wheel Drive Club – Sri Lanka (FWDC) who organised the championship event  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.

This year’s Taprobana Challenge was tough from the flag off itself in Puttlam town by Hon. Neomal Perera, Deputy Minister for Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.  The extreme 4x4 convoy then proceeded to the first campsite in Vanathavilluwa where the participants got the first taste of the diversity of Puttlam.  A short break was given to the competitors to set up their camp site, which was their home for the next couple of days.  The first Special Stage (SS) that was marked for the night completed around 2 am on the 29^th October.  Dry weather which prevailed in the region turned wet with the flag off of the event creating tough conditions for both competitors and the organisers.

The dawn of 29^th was greeted with SSs where the terrain was hilly followed with mud patches turning in to clay pits. The first few SSs took out those who did not respect the terrain.  The next SSs that followed during the afternoon became an RFC standard Jungle SS where the terrain became very slippery after the heavy rain falls.  By the end of the second day, most extreme 4x4’s were crippled and needed mechanical assistance.  The Taprobana 4x4 Challenge format did not allow any outside service assistance.  All repairs needed had to be made with the available equipment carried by the competitors.  Some competitors decided to save their vehicles for the days to follow and took it easy whereas some broke down, yet managed to sort out their mechanical issues with the assistance of other fellow competitors.  Even with great unity amongst the competitors, a few extreme 4x4’s that did not carry the required parts for the unexpected repairs opted to take a 100 point debit and leave the competition to obtain their service team’s assistance from outside. 

On the 30^th of October, competitors moved to their new campsite along the banks of Kala Oya bordering Wilpattu National Park that gave them a refreshing break.  Upon unloading their camping gear and spare parts, SSs were worked off on the banks of the river.  This year’s competition had two International entries from India where they were amazed to experience such terrain variation within one District of Sri Lanka.  The Indian drivers Zubin Mohamed from Kerala and Sanjay David from Chennai both driving  vehicles prepared locally did an impressive job especially the Chennai duo finishing 8^th overall in a comparatively standard Land Cruiser LJ70.

For some competitors, 31^st morning came too soon as they had been repairing the broken vehicles overnight.  Roshan Amarasinghe, competitor from Seeduwa was appreciated by all competitors as he had the knowledge and the will to get his fellow competitors vehicles fixed by dawn.  He also went on to win the most prestigious Camaraderie Award.  Osanda Maligaspe, Indika Sanjaya, Suresh Chathuranga were also some of the other technically knowledgeable competitors who extended helping hands to fellow competitors during their difficult times.  The day’s first SS started early as 6 a.m. with only a few vehicles ready to start at the starting box whereas the rest were still repairing their vehicle mechanics, winches that were taking the beating whilst the back up spares were depleting at a rate.

The first SS on the 31^st was the same SS that was planned for the previous night when it had to be called off due to poor visibility.  Sam Chandrasoma, the first runner up in the championship so far was the first to get a DNF (Did Not Finish) when his plasma winch rope broke in two occasions during a recovery of their Jeep Wrangler from a challenging creek.  He continued to have a bad day when water seeped in to the fuel tank during the previous day’s Kalaoya water crossing SS and now their winch giving trouble.

It was evident that this year’s SSs required to be tackled with a thorough plan.  Any team who tried to speed through the SSs paid the price.  Some of the top names in the extreme adventure sport in Sri Lanka such as Osanda Maligaspe, Deepthi Perera and Katharagama fame Damith Nissanka had to sit out most SSs as their machines broke down early in the game by trying to push too hard and the deceiving SSs became their nightmare.  By 2pm, the stages at Kala Oya area were wrapped up after giving four tough SSs for the day.  By this time one of the last two remaining competitors who had avoided the DNF times bit the dust.  It was Suresh Chathuranga who burnt his winch motor and seeked his team’s assistance to repair and get back to action. However, Indika Sanjaya could not be trapped by any of the plots put in by the organizers.  His cautious driving and the team’s sheer brilliance had them on the top by the 4^th day.

The convoy left Kala Oya literally like a train where competitors and marshals towing the broken down extreme machines to the tarmac.  Then an evening SS on the route to Kalpitiya was held for those who were still fit to face the challenge.  The intensity of the stages were turned down and speed was introduced to lighten up the mood getting ready for taste of Kalpitiya with a sea food feast and a clear night to enjoy the beach campsite in clean clothes.  A traditional folk dance group from Puttlam entertained the competitors and made their stress disappear.

Sunday the 1^st November morning, the beach strip between Kalpitiya and Dutch Island was visible up to the horizon and it was time for the extreme machines to put up some timing compared to the standard class 4x4’s in the beach strip.  Two SSs were set up, one a long speed drive with obstacles testing the cooling system of the vehicles and the other the navigations skills of the Driver & Co-driver. 

The Standard Class event which was designed to attract enthusiasts had many entries from most areas of the country.  Their track was equally tough on the vehicles and the best timing of the day was put up by Tharanga Gunawardene of DIMO’s driving a Jeep Wrangler with his Co-driver Muditha Adikari.  The first runner-up Ashan Seneviratne & Asanga Talwatte driving a Suzuki  Vitara, second runner-up more rally type driving experienced Rajive Senanayake & Lilantha Wijayapala driving a Daihatsu Terios did a spectacular run displaying their skills.

On an unofficial run just after the Standard Class event, Deputy Minister Neomal Perera in his Toyota Land Cruiser also proved that he’s also a serious contender for such events.

Event ResultsExtreme Class:

Standard Class: 

 This year’s event was made possible by Compass Synergies, an organization promoting Sri Lankan 4x4 adventure sport internationally, Toyota Lanka, Mobil Lubricants, GAC Logistics, Elephant Reach Hotel, Isotonic Lime Blast, Wurth, Dobinson Springs & Disc Brakes Australia, Victory Springs, Reborn, REAL Radio and Motor Magazine. The Sri Lankan flag will be represented by a capable team in the international arena thanks to the above sponsors.  The Taprobana Challenge was also endorsed by the Tourism Promotion Board for the unique event concept for tourism and assures that such events will bring more foreign teams to compete in Sri Lanka in the coming years.