Newcomers Deliver Big Finishes as SpeedStar Championship 2025!
Wraps Up a Milestone Season at SpeedBay, Port City Colombo
The SpeedStar Championship 2025 came to a thrilling close at SpeedBay in Port City Colombo, marking the end of a dynamic three-round karting series that welcomed complete newcomers to the sport. Designed exclusively for novice drivers with no prior motorsports experience, the championship offered a unique opportunity for first-time racers to experience competition in a professional environment. Over the course of the series, a total of 96 participants took to the track across four categories: Junior, Senior, Women’s Open and Master.
In the Junior category, Ayaan Farook claimed victory in the final race, completing all 15 laps with the best time of 41.202 seconds. Rakhil Perera, who was second in that race, ended the championship with the highest total in the Junior division, scoring 58 points through consistent placements in both qualifying and race sessions. Other notable names in the Junior category included Garuka Wetthasinghe, Havain Hettiarachchi, Akein Weerakoon, Nithum Rajapaksha, Kevaan Kumaratunga, Mihila Kularatne and Chamath Savanadasa.
The Master division was led by G. P. Dilan, who swept through the championship with a perfect score of 60 points. His final race performance clocked the fastest lap at 41.699 seconds, and he finished comfortably ahead of Dineth Anupama Wijetunga, Pansilu Abeywickrama, and Esala Weerakoon, who also demonstrated competitive pace throughout the season.
The Women’s Open category saw strong competition from newcomers such as Natanya Raymond, Natasha Nethicumara, Pujani Wijerathne and Sohanya Aziz. Natanya Raymond crossed the line first among the women in the final round, completing 15 laps with a best time of 43.237 seconds. Ameera Khalid, who scored points earlier in the series, emerged as the overall Women’s Open Champion with 21 points.
The championship’s final round in the Senior category captured the intensity and improvement of its rookie drivers. The fastest lap times from the top five drivers were all below 42 seconds. Kavisha Uyanwatta posted a best time of 42.062 seconds, followed closely by Ayaan Hameem with 41.842, Yusuf Anas with 41.696, and Russel Suriyaarachchi with 41.772. Other drivers such as Chirath Pasindu, Isala Sumanadasa, Aviyanka Senanayake and Mohammed Shimaz also finished strong. At the same time, Dhishal Gardiarachchige and Aathiq Fahim raced in tandem, with the latter completing twelve laps before retiring.
Throughout the three rounds, the SpeedStar Championship maintained a consistent standard of competition and organisation, allowing total newcomers to test their skills against one another in a structured and well-managed setting.
The venue at SpeedBay, the motorsports division and a subsidiary of the David Pieris Group of Companies, is located in the heart of Port City Colombo and provided the ideal platform for this level of entry-level motorsport, offering excellent visibility, a smooth technical circuit, and a safe environment for young talent to emerge.
With its clear focus on accessibility and skill development, the SpeedStar Championship has grown in stature with each edition. The champions were offered complimentary entry tickets to the first round of the Sodi Sprint Cup, scheduled to commence at the SpeedBay Circuit in Bandaragama.
Organisers noted the significant interest from both participants and spectators during the 2025 series and hinted at plans to expand future events in response to the increasing demand. With its strong emphasis on nurturing talent, the SpeedStar platform continues to lay the groundwork for the next generation of motorsport athletes in Sri Lanka.
