F1 FEATURED COLOMBO NIGHT RACES 2013 TO FLAG OFF IN MID-DECEMBER

For the first time a Formula One car will run on the streets of Colombo with four times world champions Infiniti Red Bull Racing.

The 2013 edition of the highly anticipated Colombo Night Races, the premier event in Sri Lanka’s racing calendar, will take place on December 15, 2013 with the qualifying rounds to be held on December 14.

The Colombo Night Races 2013 is organised by the Carlton Motor Sports Club in conjunction with the Asian Motor Racing Club (AMRC), the Sri Lanka Racing Riders Associations (SLRRA) and the Sri Lanka Association of Racing Drivers & Riders (SLARDAR).

This year the Colombo Night Race Team is proud to announce that a Formula One car will be in Sri Lanka when Infiniti Red Bull Racing, the four time Formula One Constructors' World Champions, will promise an unforgettable experience of speed and smoke as they thunder along the streets of Colombo with Formula One driver Daniel Ricciardo driving a RB9.

On December 13 a demo run and a photo shoot will be organ- ised in Galle while additional events are set to take place, which include a classic car show by The Classic Car Club of Ceylon as well as a massive fireworks display.

This is the third consecutive year that the Colombo Night Races will be bringing high-end motor racing to the streets of Colombo. The past two years have been a resounding success with a growth in competitor and spectator participation. Run on an extended 4.5km track, the 2012 races were of international standard and provided thrilling excitement to thousands of locals as well as tourists. The races allow local drivers and riders to race against top international competitors from countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan, India and the Maldives.

Speaking about the latest Colombo Night Races President of Carlton Motor Sports Club Dinesh Jayawardana said, "Red Bull have been instrumental in working with us to bring the Colombo Night Races to the attention of the International Motor Sport scene and we are confident that this event will highlight the motor racing talent in Sri Lanka. This is a great opportunity for us to showcase to the world how well we can organise a large sporting event of this nature and thus further promote Sri Lanka’s sports tourism sector." He added that this year’s races will continue to raise the entertainment factor while attracting a large audience.

The Colombo Night Races 2013 is a tarmac road race meet which is inscribed in the National Calendar of Sri Lanka Automobile Sports for the year 2013. The races will see both motor cars and motorcycles line up in different categories on the circuit that will be laid out on the streets of Fort in downtown Colombo and the Galle Face Green. Entries for both types opened on October 11 and closed on November 20, 2013.

Christian Horner - Team Principal of the Infiniti Red Bull Racing Formula One team said, “It’s great news that we're bringing the Infiniti Red Bull Racing show car to Sri Lanka, which will be the first time an F1 car has ever run there. Red Bull is all about pushing the boundaries. Hopefully the fans will enjoy the special chance of hearing an F1 car close up, as well as seeing the smoke and smelling the burning rubber. The Colombo Night Races sounds like a fantastic event for Sri Lanka and one that demonstrates the enthusiasm there is for motorsport competition in the country.”

Entries for the motor cars were as follows: -Formula McLarens 1300cc car

buretted -Formula McLaren’s 4 1300cc

EFI -SLAS Homologated Cars SL-H

(Up to 1600 cc) -SL-GT (Grand Touring Cars) up

to 3500 cc -SL – S Specials up to 1500cc

Entries for the motor cycles were as follows: -Group Super Motor Open -Over 250cc Open – 4 Stroke