Sri Lanka’s best chances in the 2009 Rain Forest Challenge...
Sri Lanka’s best chances in the 2009 Rain Forest Challenge...
The Four Wheel Drive Club (FWDC) – Sri Lanka Championship Program has given the best three teams in Sri Lanka to emerge to represent the National Flag at the International 4x4 event of the year – “The Rain Forest Challenge” (RFC) in Johor, Malaysia this December.
Local Press met up with “Team Sri Lanka” before they loaded their extreme machines in the container to Port Klang, at McLarence container yard in Wattala.
Indika Sanjaya & Naveen Marapana: We are delighted that we were able to pull off the top slot in 2009 Championship as RFC has been a passion of ours for some time and this will be our third attempt. The first year was a learning curve where we were under prepared. However, this learning experience prepared us for the following year RFC in 2007 where we were doing well in the prolog stages. During that year, luck was not on our side as the event became a rescue operation after the 4th day of competition due to heavy rains. We had to leave our vehicle behind in the thick jungles for survival and had to wait till February to get it back after the floods receded. This experience discouraged us attempting in 2008. This year, everything seemed to fall in place. We have two fellow Lankan Teams beside us who will make us feel at home. The campsite experience will certainly be pleasant with known faces and our fellow colleagues speaking same language. During this year, we also have the best strategist accompanying us as well. Sean Hameed of the FWDC will be managing our team. He is one of the most knowledgeable in our country to plot 4x4 special stages, thus giving “Team Sri Lanka” the collective strength in off roading at our own campsite. The “Taprobana 4x4 Challenge” which ended few weeks back was indeed tough. We were glad that our tough built vehicle came through without any mechanical problems. Some of the special stages of the event were tougher than what we’ve experienced before in Malaysia during the past years. Passing this acid test remarkably well has given us the satisfaction that our 4x4 machine is running well, even though it was pushed to extremes. This was also a good proving ground before the grueling 10 day event at RFC.
Indika Sanjaya & Naveen Marapana will be competing in their well prepared 2.5 300Tdi Land Rover short wheel base during this year’s RFC also. Indika himself coming from a very technical background managing a workshop prepared their vehicle which had won many local 4x4 events.
Suresh Chathuranga & Ravindra Sajeewa: Suresh entered the 4x4 competition way back in 2004 driving a Mitsubishi 4DR5. Subsequently he switched to a Land Cruiser and finally chose a Land Rover that gave him results and took him up the ranking ladder. Thanks to more experienced Indika who prepared his vehicle also trained him on getting the maximum performance out of the machine. Suresh firstly thanked the FWDC for organizing a such Championship program in Sri Lanka. This effort has enabled three best 4x4 teams in the country to represent Sri Lanka internationally. Competing in RFC is a dream come true…. My journey to RFC this year has one main purpose. That is to assist my mentor Indika, where our team work should contribute towards the highest rank Sri Lanka has ever achieved in the international 4x4 scene. Our vehicle is identical to Indika’s. Hence we are in the best position to help Indika & Naveen throughout the 10 day event. My Co- driver, Ravindra Sanjeewa known as “Kathare” in the local 4x4 scene is our most experienced mechanic. We can give Indika the peace of mind to push through the SSs knowing that we are there to back him up in every way either by offering repair services, giving parts from our vehicle if necessary etc. Therefore, our strategy this year will be to compete preserving the vehicle, gain experience and last the 10 days.
We are certainly delighted that that we finished 1st Runners up in the Championship where it gave us a deserving spot in “Team Sri Lanka”. It was a tough fight from finishing fourth in the championship’s first round held in Thulhiriya few months back and to make up the points to be at second position overall after Taprobana 4x4 Challenge. We wish and hope that the FWDC will continue this program in years to come and would be in a better position to send the top 5 Lankan teams to Malaysia every year.
Suresh Chathuranga and Ravindra Sanjeewa will compete in a 2.5 L 300 Tdi Land Rover prepared to identical specifications of Indika Sanjaya.
Ravindra Rathnasiri & Harsha Kumara: Firstly, we are glad that we finished third in the Championship when we only finished Sixth overall in the first round held in our hometown Thulhiriya few months back. During the first round itself, we had only a little hope that we will be able to finish among the top three teams in this country. The four day experience of” Taprobana 4x4 Challenge” changed all that for the better. We learnt more tricks of the game during these four days than what we already knew from the past two years being in the sport, driving a well modified Willys Jeep CJ, the older version of Jeep Wrangler. The Taprobana 4x4 Challenge was also the first toughest 4x4 Challenge that we ever competed during our short career. This experience gave us the insight of competing as well as preserving the vehicle for all four days. This had been our team’s practiced strategy which ultimately paid of………… a podium finish. Out of the three teams that are representing “Team Sri Lanka”, we are the least experience. However, this is also the best year for both of us as there are two veterans in our team and we are determined to hang on their tail and finish the event. Ravindra & Harsha also stated that the FWDC program has made this monument task reachable. They specially thanked for all the support and assistance extended by FWDC including Sean, Rushiran, Ushantha and Kumar. Furthermore, we are proud to represent the National flag through this sport.
Ravindra Rathnasiri and Harsha Kumara will take their well prepared Willys CJ at his own workshop in Allawa. This vehicle is powered by a 1KZ 3 liter Turbo under the bonnet.
En route to the container loading of competitor vehicles on the 18th of November, a small ceremony was held with Hon Sports Minister Gamini Lokuge at the Sports Ministry where the Minister commended 
on FWDC’s significant efforts to bring the 4x4 adventure sport to International standards within a short period. The National flags were affixed on the competition vehicles by the Minister followed by a brief message with his blessings and wishing “Team Sri Lanka” to return with success.
The loading of the container took place with another ceremony at McLarence container yard
at Welisara attended by the past and present sponsors of the FWDC, fellow competitors and distinguished guests. The Chief Guest for the occasion was Hon. Neomal Perera, Deputy Minister for Fisheries and Aquatic Resources who provided with the infrastructure for the recently concluded “Taprobana 4x4 Challenge” at Kalpitiya. He also presented the Championship Trophies and affixed the FWDC flags on the extreme machines before they were loaded into the container. This occasion was certainly a historic moment for the FWDC and its Members, where an idea of a championship over a few years back became a reality. The FWDC hopes that our local 4x4 champions representing “Team Sri Lanka” displaying our skills in international events will be able to attract foreign competitors to our shores in the events scheduled during year 2010.
Venue of Rain Forest Challenge 2009 : Johor, Malaysia
Event dates : 4th – 14th December 2009
Logon to www.4x4.lk, for action images of “Team Sri Lanka” that will be uploaded from RFC during the event.
