Coimbatore projects Rikaaz as a potential racing driver

by Richard Dwight

The fifteen year old lad from D.S. Senanayake College, Rikaaz Khalid lived up to his reputation and promise to be the 'Piece de Resistance' of the Sri Lankan Go-Kart racing drivers, who made it to the Indian Go-Kart races held in Coimbatore recently. Three seasoned campaigners on the tracks of Formula Racing Cars and Go-Karts, were down to take part in the senior category, whilst the youngster, Rikaaz was billed to pit his might in the junior division.

The seniors, three of them from here, for some reason or other failed to impress and didn't quite make it - whilst the saving grace however came from Rikaaz, who hardly in his mid teens, though not winning did Sri Lanka proud by exhibiting his dazzling prowess in Go-Kart racing, which did make racing enthusiasts and officials to sit up and take note as a future prospect for motor racing in Sri Lanka.

That which was significant about Rikaaz's racing in Coimbatore, was that the junior contenders from India had the benefit of wide experience, having participated in other different racing venues of the world-while Rikaaz's experience on the contrary was confined solely to domestic competitions and, the only time he went out, was early this year for a training session at Coimbatore, where he gave a good account of himself, and again in the now concluded races at Coimbatore.

These two outings to India came about through the painstaking efforts of the President of the Sri Lanka Automobile Sports, Richard de Zoysa, in the name and cause of motor racing.

Unfortunate it was for Rikaaz to drive a hired Go-Kart, which is normally made use of for practice sessions at Coimbatore. This he felt was a drawback, not so much to his liking, where he had to adjust and adapt himself to this make shift Go-Kart.

Despite this comparative disadvantage, it was commendable that he proved to be in the reckoning in the qualifying rounds and, in the first and second heat occupying 5th and 3rd grid positions, he held his own against all India champions, with Malaysian experience, to be consistent to be placed third, and be on the podium twice. In the pre-final hampered by poor engine performance and a weakened battery, saw him end up fourth.

The final witnessed Rikaaz lying fourth at the 4th lap fast shikken and maintained this position up to the 16th lap, but trying to overtake Indian Champion Ajay Kini to third place, ran over an Apex placed in the middle, spun and regained to be placed fifth in the final. All in all, Rikaaz's timing in all the races and the way in which he handled himself, and the much to be desired Go-Kart, was evidence enough of his being a potential racing driver of the future.

Rikaaz undoubtedly, has a bent for things that has to do with motors, and from the tender age of 9 he was riding a motorbike and driving a car. This led to Rikaaz being obsessed, where he thinks talks and lives motor racing. His passion and commitment for Go-Kart racing, was such that between his age of 12 years to 14, from the year 2001 to 2003, he dominated Go-Kart domestic racing, to win 18 trophies made up of 15 for Pro-Kart and 3 for Go-Kart.

That which redounds to his credit is the excellent timings he maintains, be if for the best lap time or for the entire 15 to 20 laps. This we learn was very much in evidence when Rikaaz performed earlier this year at a training session in Coimbatore, and now at the recently concluded races at the Kari Motor Speedway track, Coimbatore.

Rikaaz comes from a humble background given to sober disciplined ways, with his parents simple as they are, sans any form of affluence. Being a year 11 student viz; O/L at D.S.S. he is studying electronics as a technical subject and maths too.

Rikaaz is not keen on entering the University, but is desirous of following an aircraft engineering course. It is by design that Rikaaz has selected the said subjects for study, in order that it would become helpful for motor car racing, with his prime ambition being to be a professional formula car racing driver.

Getting back to the racing track at Coimbatore, Rikaaz said he could have done better if he like others, had a new Go-Kart.

He is hoping that assistance will come, no matter from what quarter it be.

He also said that when they get onto a complete full racing circuit it appears strange, and that they need to have a few practice sessions on it, to pick the rhythm of the track before they race.

Many a youngster having their eyes set on being a professional racing driver, has given up midway. One does not know whether in Rikaaz's case too, his interest to be a professional, will wane through the years, only time will tell.