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| Thursday, 2 May 2002 |
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Grand MRA rally 2002 (II) in June by Richard Dwight If we are to go by the attractive brochure, embodying supplementary regulations and entry form, providing as well specific informative details and, more importantly elaborate preparations afoot well in advance - then the Motor Racing Association Rally 2002-II scheduled for the 21st, 22nd & 23rd of June within Sevanagala and Buttala (Moneragala District) is bound to be a grand and memorable occasion, for both competitors and lovers of motor sports. It is a candidate event for inclusion in the FIA international calendar, held under its sporting code, organised by the Motor Racing Association (MRA) in conjunction with the Sri Lanka Army motor sports committee and coming under the patronage of the Sri Lanka Association of Motor Sports (SLAMS). This was revealed to the media at briefing held recently at Colombo Prokarts Millennium Park by the Chairman Organising Committee Richard de Zoysa (founder MRA). The competition will be held within the premises of the Pelwatte Sugar Industries Ltd, Buttala, and the Sevanagala Sugar Industries Ltd and, on certain public roads, where the route will be closed to other traffic while the rally is in progress. Unlike in the world races where the terrain is the same, here it will vary from gravel surfaces to sealed surfaces found on roads that are especially kept open for rally drivers. The competition will be held in multiple 'special stages' over a total distance of between 480 km and 680 km and there will be between 8 to 16 such special stages. Each special stage will constitute a 'leg'. The legs may or may not be divided into sections. The first day of the rally, the 21st of June, is regarded as 'Reconnaissance' which is compulsory and the competition proper will take place on the second and third days, Saturday & Sunday 22 & 23rd. This will mean day and night driving with the conventional breaks for both man and machine. The world rally championship average speed is 104 KPH, which is considered a possibility since Dinesh Dheragoda came close to it in the MRA rally 2002 - I held in January. A detailed program enlisting duties and functions to be adhered to from officials and participants right from the month of March to the three days covering the rally have been released in the brochure. Since it is an exacting ordeal to organise and conduct a rally of this nature only 40 entries will be entertained. Entries will be received only for Groups A and N Cars in FIA's category'. The power of all cars is restricted to about 300 hp in all international rallies. The MRA will enforce this power restriction in this rally. The two categories in this rally will be Group N: Production cars and Group A: Touring cars. |
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