Motor racing is a passion that once ignited is revived every time you hear the rev of an engine. It is only those with a true passion like Abeeth Dangalla who would know the adrenaline rush that it brings. Though he had a passion for racing and all things automotive from a very young age, the stage wasn’t set for Abeeth to venture into motor sports until much later in his life. The liking towards the sport came naturally to him even as a child as he spent his time watching races and showed great interest towards vehicles. Being surrounded by friends involved in racing also helped to stir up his desire for racing even more. Persistence being his key strength, Abeeth made his dream come true when he competed in his first ever motor race.
Proving that he was quite a natural in the sport, Abeeth excelled with sensational performances to win the National Championship in the year 2006 and 2012. He was also the SLARDAR (Sri Lanka Association of Racing Drivers and Riders) champion in the year 2006 in which he placed 1st in every championship race of the year except one. His most recent best doing what he loves would be the 2012 Katukurunda Rotherham Championship, Multiple podiums at the Colombo Night Races, and also finishing on the podium in every SLGT race he competed since coming to the event.
Of all these great victories, winning the 2012 National Championship stands out as the most memorable for Abeeth. All set to take part in the SL-GT events, he was seeking to make a comeback at this competition after a hiatus of three years. Due to certain misfortunes, he couldn’t perform well at the timing trials and had to start his race from the back of the grid. Unwavered, Abeeth had his eyes on the ultimate goal. His persistence was rewarded when he was able to surpass the twenty racers who were before him to grab the chequered flag at the finish line and hence, be entitled to the Championship.
A big fan of Mika Hakkinen and Fernando Alonso, Abeeth was also able to take part in a state level race – Formula Ztech – while he was in Australia where he was exposed to the high level of competition and training that the drivers go through.
None of these victories come easy. Motor racing is generally considered ‘risky.’ It is not just another sport like cricket where your family would encourage you to participate. Especially when you are not from a racing background, it is quite difficult to convince your loved ones to let you do it. This was also the case with Abeeth’s family who at first, were very hesitant to give the green light. It was when he was a little older and more financially independent that he was finally able to step into the game. Even today, he says, his family gets quite worried and gets more nervous than he does before a race. But now, they have begun to come to terms with it, enjoy watching him race and are quite proud of his achievements on track. He is also thankful to his dad who is now at trackside for every race and mom and sister who is glued to the TV throughout the event. Abeeth also has a few close friends and an ardent fan following who have supported him right throughout.
As is to be expected, accidents and injuries are part of the sport. However, because of the high levels of safety precautions taken by the drivers and the authorities, so far, Abeeth has never faced any major nasty injuries. His worst memories while on the sport were never the injuries but the times when his car failed him at the very height of competition. After months of preparation, Abeeth and his team were ready to compete at Foxhill. Everything had been well until it was time to get the car to the grid when his car just refused to budge. All attempts at fixing the problem failed, his anticipation of winning was avail as he could not take part. A similar incident took place at the start of the first Colombo Night Race. It is a horrible feeling, Abeeth recalled, when your vehicle fails you at the very peak of competition after months of preparation.
Months of preparation means endless days of hard work to gear up for the races both physically and mentally. Acquiring sufficient sleep to improve concentration and acquiring physical fitness to develop good reflexes is very important. Equally, the vehicle also goes on preparatory mode to suit the regulations of the race and to ensure it is of good condition – properly tuned, tested and ready. It is very time consuming and doesn’t come easy. Working as a director of companies involved in property development and investments and a consultant for the government sector, it is important to strike a balance between work, racing and other aspects of life. This has limited Abeeth’s time dedicated for racing and now he is more selective about the races he takes part in. If it fits the criteria of being enjoyable, he’s in.
Most of his racing is self-funded while Nitro Racing also sponsors some of his events. However, when he was a full-time competitor, there was a high need for sponsors as motor sport is generally more expensive, which was difficult to fulfil. This was because though the corporate sector does come forward to provide finances as they do not see much benefit that they could gain from sponsoring drivers. Sri Lanka has great potential in the sport – great talent and enthusiastic spectators which, in Abeeth’s opinion, has not been rightfully exploited. “Like SLCC has branded cricket, motor racing in Sri Lanka needs to create an image for itself – make itself a brand. Sri Lankan authorities need to take more steps to establish the sport and bring it up to professional standards from every aspect even the organisers and regulators who at present, work on a voluntary basis. The authorities also need to build dedicated tracks, develop infrastructure, and make doors for more financial support at least by providing duty concessions for racing vehicle equipment for drivers. If this is done, the corporate sector would be more willing to offer sponsorships and motor racing can be taken to the next level”, he says.
This year, Abeeth who has a strong liking towards gravel racing hopes to take part in more races than he did last year, and hopes to reach more podiums and create greater memories on a track he has always wanted to dominate.
Written by Tabitha Abraham
Photography: Suren Nimalan