Over the last few years, the Palar Challenge has set the benchmark for both man and machine, demanding complete skill and dedication. Held under the auspices of the Chennai chapter of Jeep Thrills, it is one of the toughest off-road terrains in India. Set in the bed of the Palar – a subterranean river that flows into the Bay of Bengal, the event involves extreme special stages(SS) stretching from Wallajabad to Marakkanam. In the event spanning three days, competitors will have to course through the river bed (a task by itself, considering the harsh and humid weather) to reach every special stage.
This year’s Palar Challenge gained a whole new dimension with international participation. Ace Sri Lankan off-roaders Sean Hameed and Darshan Maralanda competed in a locally sourced MG 413W and stole the limelight with their extraordinary skills. In the ‘Most Performing 4WD’ category Sean won first prize. And this came as no surprise from a man who is a regular at the Rainforest Challenge, Malaysia.
Sean’s efforts truly deserve a special mention. He accepted Jeep Thrills’ invitation and competed in the Palar Challenge. He also reciprocated the comradeship by inviting Indian teams to participate in the Taprobana Challenge 2009. And that’s how the journey began; from Palar to Puttalam.
When Sanjay David and Raghav R from the Chennai chapter of Jeep Thrills decided to participate in the Taprobana Challenge, their enthusiasm to represent India and the Indian off-roading community was not marred by the fact that they were not backed by sponsorships or financial support. Their determination and the encouragement of the entire Jeep Thrills community proved to be the driving force.
As someone who grew up in a plantation estate, Sanjay’s initiation to off-roading can be best-described as natural. Over the years he has nurtured his skills and is an active member of the Jeep Thrills Chennai chapter. He steered his passion to the next level when his team won the Palar Challenge 2009. Prior to this, Sanjay and team were the runners-up in the Palar Challenge 2008.
An automobile professional by default and design, Raghav has years of experience in leading automotive and motorsport companies. He owns and manages IGNITE - a multi-brand service centre in ECR, Chennai. With a strong technical background, Raghav’s role as co-driver gave the team a double advantage.
For practical reasons, the team decided to source a vehicle in Sri Lanka to participate in the event. To quote Sean Hameed, Event Director of the Taprobana Challenge and Founder Member of the Four Wheel Drive Club of Sri Lanka – “Sanjay and Raghav drove a LJ 70 Land Cruiser 2.8 Litre 4 Cylinder Diesel. The vehicle was pretty much stock with standard coil spring suspension, compared to their fellow competitors. The only two vehicles to run with 33" tires and without diff locks during the event were Sanjay David’s and Zubin Mohammed’s (a fellow competitor from Kerala). Even our marshalling vehicles were more souped-up than this.”
The Taprobana Challenge was the fourth of the series of off-road events conducted by the Four Wheel Drive Club of Sri Lanka for the year 2009. The winner who would be judged on the basis of the final points tally of the four events, gets to represent Sri Lanka in the prestigious Rainforest Challenge 2009 in Malaysia.
The event involved four days of extreme off-roading covering 20 special stages (SS) over a variety of terrain amidst harsh sun and rains. Flag-off from Puttalam town happened at 8.00 pm on 28th Oct, 09. The extreme 4x4 convoy then proceeded to the first campsite at Vanathavilluwa. Competitors were given a short break to set up their camps, before commencing the event’s first SS: an exciting SS in the pitch of the night.
The first SS concluded around 2.00 am on the 29th October. At the break of dawn, competitors were welcomed with traditional rice cakes and fish gravy for breakfast followed by a series of tough hilly and muddy SSs.On its part, the weather greeted the competitors with surprise showers.
On 30th October, the competitors moved camp along the banks of Kala Oya bordering Wilpattu National Park. They were rewarded with some challenging SSs on the river bank. The test of man and machine was beginning to make its impact. After the SSs, several competitors burned the midnight oil repairing their machines to prepare for the next day. The organizers were busy too. They had chosen the man for a very special award. Roshan Amarasinghe, the competitor from Seeduwa was awarded the prestigious Camaraderie Award for his knowledge and will to help fix his fellow competitors’ vehicles before dawn.
31st October was a really tough day. Even the most formidable competitors suffered to conquer the deceptive terrain. Those who tried to substitute caution with speed paid the price. Winches snapped. Engines choked. Every man had learned his lesson. By 2.00 pm the convoy left Kala Oya after four grueling special stages. Some competitors had to seek tow assistance from the marshals. They had to resort to external service assistance which also meant a 100 point debit penalty. The others went on to do one more special stages en route. By evening, the convoy reached Kalpitiya beach and was welcomed with a dinner feast of exotic sea food and lively cultural entertainment.
The morning of 1st November began with much fanfare, as the Kalpitiya beach wore a festive look. Leading brands in Sri Lanka had put up stalls in the venue. And a crowd of spectators from the neighbouring towns had eagerly lined up to witness the day’s events. The first SS for the day from Kalpitiya Beach to Dutch island and back was a combination of a speed-run and an obstacle course. This was followed by a dedicated SS to test the reversing skills.
The Indian team evoked a lot of appreciation with Sanjay David finishing 8th in the event. Considering the time they had to familiarize themselves with the terrain and the machine, they made a positive impression on their peers. The highlight of the Taprobana Challenge 2009 for the Indian team was that Sanjay David clocked the fastest timing in the last SS. He was the only competitor to better the timing of the reigning champion Indika Sanjaya in an individual SS.
At the close of the event, Indika Sanjaya and his co-driver Naveen Marapana of the Land Rover team topped the points tally to officially represent Sri Lanka in the forthcoming Rainforest Challenge at Malaysia.
There was also a special stage for the standard class for encouraging new enthusiasts. The chief guest, deputy minister Mr Neomal Pereira sportingly participated in this special stage in his Toyota Land Cruiser and clocked an impressive timing. The event concluded with prize distribution and the Sri Lankan competitors bid adieu to their Indian counterparts promising to make it to the next Palar Challenge.
| OFF-ROAD AS A SPORT IN SRI LANKA · Sponsorships and support from Automotive companies,
· Supported by several ministries of the government · Simple procedures for transporting vehicles abroad · Variety of choice for vehicle and equipment imports/upgrades |
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