Four Wheel Drive Club of Sri Lanka

Day 1.

The Competitors were brought into camp site on 10^th Night and they discovered the Pro Log Stage was not too far from where they camped the previous night. This was the only stage to be allowed to run minus the camping gear.

6 Special stages were worked out as Pro Log Stage, a stage that will determine the running order for the rest of the event. Also this is also an opportunity for the organizers to gauge the vehicle strength and determine the fitness of the same to take on more difficult obstacles ahead.

The scoring system this year incorporates Pro log scores added to total scores, hence it was important for the competitors to put a good score regardless of their strategies of where they want to run. Also the scoring is converted into points where the top timing will earn 100 points minus 5 points for each debit. The next best timing will be 95 ponits and so forth.

The inaugural SS 1 was surprise to all when the first vehicle went through, which was Sathy Watson in the Range Rover. He made it in 28 seconds making mockery of the stipulated time of 15 minutes. The Obstacle was untouched till the first competitor and and had some winching in store for the rest. The last competitor took over 10 mins to complete. SS 1 was a shocker as it took out 7 vehicles with a DNF – Did not finish due to winch problems. A dilemma that they will have to deal with for the balance 4 Days.

SS2 Was a teaser with uneven angles that tested the articulation of the vehicle and the control of the Driver. Sam Chandrasoma’s wrangler was a Victim where his front Axle shaft broke.

SS3 Looked Complicated but by now the competitors were comfortable with the ground conditions. Most competitors made it through less than a minute where, the last 4 four with mechanical issues were over the 2 min mark.

SS 4 started off with a log that need to be crossed. After Saranga Gunewardene in the Hilux redesigned the obstacle  to make the rest of the proceedings easy.

SS5 Was to be the one that matched SS1 one proving a great deal of difficulty for the competitors. Where Ranjan Fernando and Osanda Maligaspe taking the obstacle without winching.

SS6 was a speed run through the mud back to camp site.

A consistant Drive by Suresh Chathuranga put him first in the prolog order. Second Place went to Osanda Maligaspe, despite getting a DNF the 5 other SS’s he got  100,100,95,95 & 95.

Third Place went to Indika Sanjaya and Fourth Place went to Ranjan Fernando of Negombo. Ties in 5^th Place was Sam Chandrasoma and Sathy Watson.  

Day 2

The damages occurred on Day 1 Prolog had to be fixed during the night. This year the organizers provided the food for the competitors which was a relief as they came to campsite they had one less problem to worry about.

Mother Nature had its own agenda, and the over night showers made the campsite a mud pool.

Team Jeep were up till 4 am in the morning sorting out Sam Chandrasoma’s Left Axle and Deepthi Perera’s rear Differential Pinon. These guys proved that although they were desk bound in their private lives, they were equal to the task.

Indika Sanjaya also suffered a Broken Axle and had problems with his differential locks, his vehicle was pulled apart and his campsite looked like a work shop. It was amazing to witness such self sufficiency among the competitors as they seemed to have come prepared even for an engine overhaul. This year’s challenge the competitors can not have outside help from the start on the 10^th till the finish on the 14^th.

The First Victim for the day was Sathy Watson in His Range Rover running number 5. SS7 was unforgiving for large vehicles. It was rocky climb like steps with an awkward left turn and down hill for the finish. Over powering will send the vehicle off the track and that is exactly what happened. Same Fate was in store for Denson Kumara. The top position on this SS went to Amal Wijerathne in His Wrangler completed in 1 min 11 sec.

SS8 was also a rock crawling SS where probably the most simple looking one with a lot of technical expertise which only 11 competitors were able to get through. This SS had experienced Drivers such as Indika Sanjaya, Amal Wijerathne, Pubudu Wickrama, and Australian Competitor Russel Brimsmead go for a DNF ( Did not Finish)

SS9 Was more rock to come, a steep climb through a narrow pass and turn within a one car space area and come back. This SS only allowed 10 competitors to complete successfully. Nishan Wasalathantri had a misfortune of Breaking his rear axle and the rear wheel separate from the axle housing. A brilliant recovery by the marshals had him down the rock within minutes. It is notable that all recoveries were made for the day was with the competitors equipment as well as the fellow competitors equipment with marshals conducting the recoveries. It tight trails such as these it is the best possible scenario that bringing in outside equipment.

SS10 Again the competitors had to pull out their rock crawling skills. The trail was to pass over a large root down hill and come up a rock face almost 45 degrees. The rain was making the rock face slippery and it challenged even the best with accelerator control without spinning their wheels much. Sam Chandrasoma proved the best control with a 4.54 timing which was half of what most other competitors took.

Night fall was early due to the gloomy weather, and when competitors were getting set to wind down for the day, one more obstacle needed to be crossed. A steep 2 car length climb passing an Ara, which was the mandatory route to campsite. Obviously this was SS11. This was a tough ask as the first car started the SS at 7 pm and the last car which was the 10^th car to make by 11pm. Ranjan Fernando was unfortunate as he finished the climb a reverse move brought him down like a pile of bricks ending back down the hill upside down. It took 4 other vehicles to get involved to put the rubber side down again.

The competitors were then led to the next water hole for the night by around mid night.

Day 3

The competitors woke up to a rain drenched campsite. Some tents had over a foot of water depending on the choice of location to pitch the tent in the night. Due to the heavy clouds the nights were dark, only the Kerosene goose necks illuminating the place.

By Day three most competitors had a newborn respect for their navigators. As every obstacle had to be winched, the navigator’s strength that was pulling the vehicles through, and the strongest would survive. Further all winching angles were so steep the driver had no idea of direction without the navigators direction.

The best ones to emerge was, Raveendra Sanjeewa, co of Suresh Chathuranga, Malintha Kannagara co of Osanda Maligaspe, Amal Wickramarachchi co of Sam Chadrasoma, and Naveen Marapana co of Indika Sanjaya to name a few.   

Day 3 Started out with one of the most difficult obstacle of the entire event. SS12 posed a tricky situation even for the most experienced. A washed off drain and an awkward left turn over a mound that will cause a near topple if not cautious. Only one competitor was allowed at a time and the rest were restricted from viewing the others line.

Every one except Osanda Maligaspe had to resort to highly technical winching to get through.

SS13 was just after, where a creek needed to be crossed, and driven along and a steep climb where you do not want to get caught in hole the size of a small truck. Osanda going for this obstacle without winching ended up in the hole and earned a DNF. The recovery took almost an hour with the help of fellow competitors.

SS14 Was technical as well, a drive along the creek and a right uphill climb where the vehicle would tilt towards the left and rest on the wall. Every one winched through this SS without taking a risk to try on engine power.

SS15 was a small drain to cross which gave the competitors a fun element, however Amal Wijeratne broke his wind screen in the process.

For a change the proceeding ended before night fall and the competitors were escorted to a camp site over a rock bed, and the organizers set up a B B Q. The Marshals and the Competitors had their first break in three days to have a chat in lighter note and also the weather gave break and the moon light was on full beam.

By end of Day 3 there were only 5 Competitors without a DNF. They were Suresh Chathuranga, Sam Chandrasoma, Saranga Gunewardene, Roshan Ratnayake and Shenal Fernando.             

 Day 4 

Day 4 Started early around 6:30 am. Giving a wake up call to competitors with SS16 and SS17 before breakfast. Once again the competitors were allowed to leave behind their camping gear and Proceed to a Water Crossing approximately a Kilo meter long.

SS17 was reversing skill SS. Being most difficult on the extremely modified machines that have poor rear view due to their radiators located in the back. Roshan Ratnayake had his front tire come out but escaped the DNF by driving on a Flat.  Suresh Chaturanga and Sam Chandrasoma were the fastest less than a minute with 57.75 sec and 59.78 respectively.

SS18 was the last SS for the day but was far from the least of troubles. The last day brought in the crowd from villages around when the word got around that a new type of jeep race was taking place. Marshals had to make this the last SS due to this issue of crowd control as it will not be safe to be recovering among a crowd. With the greatest effort to keep the crowd away, all 18 competitors completed the SS.

Only 9 competitors completed the SS with Sam Chandrasoma being the fastest, and the only one under the 3 min mark. The DNF time set on this SS was down to 8 min and many missed it by seconds.

The award ceremony was set at the property owners hotel within premises which was a bush camp style set up ideally suited for the 4x4 scene.

The most prestigious award of the 4x4 challenge is the camaraderie award. Which was named the Aruna Batuwanthudawe Trophy, which went to Roshan Ratnayake for his selfless work towards recovering fellow competitors. Which was presented by team Exide.

The team awards 3 rd Place went to 4x4’s Negombo, 2^nd Place for Team Jeep and the 1^st Prize went to team Land Rover. Which was presented by Chrysler Jeep division of Dimos.

The 2^nd Runner up for the Main event was Mr Indika Sanjaya with his Co Driver Naveen Marapana, with 1370 points; the 1^st Runner Up was Sam Chandrasoma with His Co Driver Amal Wickramarachchi with 1481 points, and the Winners Suresh Chathuranga with His co driver Raveendra Sanjeewa with 1521 points. The Main Sponsor of the event was Laughs Lubricants and the Trophy was presented by Mr. Malinda Kamalsuriya of Laughs Oil.  

4X4 CHALLENGE 2008 – Mission Accomplished

The grueling 4 day 4x4 Challenge 2008 came to a fantastic finish on the 14^th October in Dambulla amidst a gathering of Sponsors, Spectators, Competitors and surprised locals. This event which challenged the brain as well as the vehicle of the competitors was undoubtedly the most challenging event in its 5 years of existence.

The organizers made sure that the competitors got the best of obstacles and nature they could handle. FWDC along with Alkin Nature Resort put on this show for the 4x4 enthusiast. 18 Competitors showed up for the prolog where their capabilities we put to test prior to the more serious off roading the following day.

Prolog winner Mr. Suresh Chaturanga proved that nothing was impossible if one sets his mind to it as he ploughed his way through to the leader board.

The other competitor were also equal to the task to secure each of their locations for day 2, This was an eye opener for everybody as unlike the previous challenges the obstacles presented to the competitors were more severe and needed a lot of guts to get through, it was encouraging to see our international competitor showing some of the ropes (tricks) in how to get through such obstacles. New comers to the 4x4 Challenge 2008 had a lot to learn for the likes of veterans in the trade, Mr. Indika Sanjaya, Mr. Deepthi Perera, Mr. Osanda Maligaspe have been in the competitors seat since the inception of 4x4 Challenge.

All together 18 SS (Special Stages) were worked off during the 4 days including night sections and camping, mother nature also played her part by Raining on the parade, but this was a welcome by the organizers as it made the obstacles even more challenging to drive on wet surface. The Final Standings for the event was a total shocker to everybody as the reigning champ was ousted by his team member. Results sheet attached below.

 Team Award goes to - Winner : Team LR / 1st Runner up : Team Jeep / 2nd Runner up : Team 4x4's Negombo

The prestigious Anura Batuwantudawa Memorial Comeraderie Trophy goes out to Mr. Roshan Ratnayaka 

A special thank you goes our to Mr. Russell Brinsmead for making his was over to Sri Lanka and take part in the most prestigious 4x4 event held the 4x4 Challenge, FWDC hope that his contribution will open a new era in having international entries taking part in future 4x4 events.

The 4x4 Challenge would never have taken place if it wasn’t for one mans dream. Sean Hameed has been the heart & soul of the 4x4 Challenge, his enthusiasm for the sport has made it the most popular recreational sport in this country. As a hopeful for this years Rain Forest Challenge the FWDC wishes him all success and the best of luck.

As always this event and others alike would never be successful if not for the dedicated competitors, FWDC is proud to have such innovative and enduring competitors. A heartfelt thank you goes out to them, The Sponsors of 4X4 Challenge 2008 – Laugfs Lubricants, JEEP Dimo, Toyota, Exide Batteries, REAL Radio, Dialog TV, DailyMirror, KIT Sports, OfficeMax and well wishers; FWDC thanks you for your support. Special mention of Mr. Deera owner and operator of Alkin Nature Resort for allowing us to hold this event and finally to the Marshals, if not for their love of this sport such an event will not be possible.

The 2007 4x4 Challenge, most challenging event of the FWDC calender is closing up.  This year, it is going to be a four day expedition style event.

More about the 4x4 Challenge

Photos from the SLARDAR 1000 4x4 Rally are now in the photo gallery.

We have changed the web site URL to www.4x4.lk. A mobile version is available at m.4x4.lk.