EZY Racing, the most followed racing team is to venture into new waters as they are to compete in the Asia Pacific Rally Championship this August. A media launch was held yesterday at the Park Street mews to unveil the competing car and its handler.
EZY Motor racing corporation, the brand owners of the most followed racing team in the country having set up 5 years ago, unveiled their International racing car the ER88 and its driver Dinesh Deheragoda today at an elegant Black and Red event in Colombo. Deheragoda will be maneuvering this machine at the Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) commencing this August in Malaysia.
Having earlier announced their intention of putting Sri Lanka on the world map of motor racing by contending in the Asia Pacific Rally championship, EZY racing made their mark in history by becoming the 2nd motor racing team to compete in a FIA (the world governing body for motor racing) governed race just behind India.
The APRC is renowned to have a great followership worldwide having a diverse range countries, climates and cultures on offer which includes New Zealand, New Caledonia, Australia, Japan, China, Malaysia and Thailand. Ranked as an extension of FIA’s apex World Rally Championship, APRC is the leading Rally championship for the whole of Asia Pacific and is considered to be the top contender for the regions premier event.
This event will capture the attention of 684 million people who will be following APRC on television from over 160 countries which is almost 705 of the world’s countries. CEO and team principal, Mr. Shafraz Hamzadeen was very enthusiastic as he introduced the team and their vision of taking Sri Lankan motor racing to the next level. “When we entered the sport 5 years back, we realized that there was immense scope in local Motor racing. Our vision was first to start local and then go on to become the very first Sri Lankan team to represent the country overseas in a FIA sanctioned event. Today we announce the beginning of our International journey in motor racing” said Hamzadeen. He also went on to announce the driver of the ER88 machine, Dinesh Deheragoda, “I have great pleasure in announcing multiple national champion Dinesh Deheragoda who will become the newest addition to EZY racing’s coveted driver line up and will represent the brand EZY Racing exclusively internationally”.
Deheragoda has won over 272 podium finishes in an illustrious career spanning over 17 years and will possibly become the first Sri Lankan driver to compete in an FIA sanctioned event creating history when he takes the wheel of the ER88 on the 15th, 16th and 17th of August in Malaysia. The 3 time international rally racer said “I feel proud to be a part of a professional racing team. The biggest difference for me is the approach towards the sport from a professional racing standpoint, which is different to what I have experienced in the past”. He also added “I am looking forward to meet new participation with EZT racing for many years to come and hopefully with a vision to one day go beyond the borders of the APRC”.
The stunning ER88 which was unveiled elegantly is fully prepared and equipped to be competitive as it could possibly be, within the parameters of the FIA Homologation for the Lancer EVO X RS in FIA class 2.
Coordinator of the APRC, Mr. Murray Brown said “they are a professional racing team and I see a great future in the country’s racing future” speaking on the scope for Sri Lanka in the world Rally racing arena. “This is an ideal stage for Sri Lanka to be recognized in the global stage as a racing nation” said Murray giving hope for many a Sri Lankan motor racing fan and enthusiast.
EZY racing will be competing in the Asia Cup of the Asia Pacific Rally Championship 2014 where they will be competing in Malaysia in August, Japan in September, China in November and Thailand to end the year. The team also intends to compete in the entire Asia Pacific championship in 2015 with Rally New Zealand starting March 2015.
