The Sri Lanka’s largest go-kart circuit in Bandaragama will be upgraded to international standards very soon and will be the newest addition to international go-kart race venues.
The existing carting track was set up around 2013 with a distance of 774 metres and it will extend to 1214 metres to reach international track specifications.
The founder of Bandaragama go-kart track David Pieris, the president of David Pieris Motor Company, a prominent name associated with motor racing in the South Asian region has taken the initiative to upgrade the track on par with international standard at a cost of Rs. 500 million with the expertise technical support from Malaysian carting legend Richard Lim.
Richard Lim has won Malaysian Karting Championship 1985/86 and numerous national and international titles and was instrumental in moulding some champion carting drivers such as his son Aaron (currently A1 Team Malaysia rookie driver), Melwin Moh (Formula BMW Pacific driver), Jazeman Firihan Jaafar (Formula BMW Europe Driver), Calvin Wong (Top national karter), Nik Iruwan Nik Izani (currently rival karting team boss), Bryan Mehta (reigning Asian Karting Champion) and Fahmi Ilyas (most promising Formula BMW Pacific driver) to name a few.
“Our aim is to bring a Leg of the X30 Southeast Asia Karting Series to Sri Lanka for enthusiastic motor sports lovers. The prestigious event has six or seven Legs, with 50 to 60 drivers competing.
Furthermore this track has been already certified by the CIK. So we just have to complete the reforms according to their standards and hopefully will able to put Sri Lanka on international karting map very soon,” Pieris said in a media briefing held in Bandaragama recently.
Sri Lanka will be greatly benefited by the expert knowledge of Richard Lim in reaching international carting heights as Lim has pledged his fullest support and come down to Sri Lanka to guide the expansion project of Bandaragama circuit. “Our intention is to provide more accessibility for the youngsters to this sport.
Some Colombo schools have already added karting to their sporting schedules. We need to do something for the betterment of the sport voluntarily, Pieris further said.
Ralph Vandorn, past president of the Australian Karting Association, Chief Technical delegate of Queensland Karting Association and current technical inspector for X30 Asia Series also joined hands with Richard Lim to upgrade karting in Sri Lanka.
Expansion of the track will be upto 1214 metres
Add new comment