Colombo: Volkswagen Race Polo took over the Streets of the capital city of Sri Lanka once again. Last night, TDI Race Polo, with headlights blazing, zipped around Colombo Fort areas for the practice session turning heads of the onlookers. One of the spectators’ favourite, Polo Race, witnessed a crowd of more than 300,000 last year and more are expected this year. In this unique annual fiesta, which is part of a big music festival, Electric Peacock Festival, Volkswagen Motorsport India is showcasing their racing prowess and talented Indian drivers second year in a row. The qualifying round, with a grid of 6 Indian and 4 SriLankan drivers, followed by main races, will take place tonight amidst the racing enthusiasts.
This year, the track length has been extended compared to last year, making the race more exciting and giving opportunity to more spectators to watch the action. The specially re-laid street circuit, is a good mix of fast, medium and slow corners. Being a street race, it’s little dusty and drivers are improving lap after lap. Angad Singh Matharoo (from Chandigarh) and Munjal Savla (from Mumbai), Polo R Cup drivers who have raced last year in Colombo, were setting the pace last night in the practice session. The qualifying races were to start late last night but owing to some last minute changes, the same is taking place tonight.
Excited about returning to the streets of Colombo, Prithviraj Siddappa, Head of Volkswagen Motorsport India, said, “This year the circuit has seen a good extension over last year. Street race is a totally different form of racing compared to a proper race circuit racing. I am glad to see all the drivers are coping well and have been sensible to stay out of trouble. This year the organisation has seen marked improvements like exclusive paddocks and tighter safety measures. We are excited to be part of the ecstatic environment and are looking forward to the races tonight.”
The Polo R Cup India drivers participating in the race are:
1.Sandeep Kumar
2.Munjal Savla
3.Saurav Bandyopadhay
4.Angad Singh Matharoo
5.Niranjan Todkari
6.Ameya Bafna
The SriLankan drivers participating in the race are:
1.Rohitha Rajapakshe
2.Romani De Silva
3.Upulwan Serasinghe
4.Sumanapala Mannapperuma
The Colombo Night Races are organized by Carlton Motor Sports Club and conducted by Asian Motor Racing Club (AMRC) and Sri Lanka Motor Cycle Club (SLMCC). According to the organizers seven Car events and four Motor Cycle events are scheduled to be run on this day. The seven car events are conducted by AMRC while the Motor Cycle events are conducted by SLMCC. Last year, there were 149 cars and 90 bikers who set the pulse high. This international event will see drivers participating from India and various countries including Malaysia, Indonesia and Japan and Hong Kong.
By Indian Sports News Network
