Dilantha s Aston Martin Dream

Aston Martin Asia Cup Round 3 & 4
Sepang F1 Circuit June 21st and 22nd 2008

This was the support race for Japan GT race. We had 2 test on Friday and we were doing well and my main rival was Sasaki the GT300 champion from Japan. I was able to go faster than him in the 2nd test but then he went out with new tires and went faster than me. But it was good in Shanghai he was almost 1 second faster.

Qualifying.
We had qualifying and race round 3 on Saturday. I had to bed the brakes during qualifying so it took a while for me still I did a good lap but was 2nd and Sasaki was pole. But I was only 0.3 seconds behind and Mark was 3rd 1 second behind me.

Round 3.
I got a good start and was just behind Sasaki on lap 3 in turn 6 I went off but controlled and got back to the circuit and it took me 3 seconds away from Sasaki but our gap remained same and by the end of the race I was just 2.3 seconds behind him. Mark Eddy finished 3rd. Sasaki’s and my best lap time was within 0.1 seconds. I was happy to get very close to him and if I didn’t have the spin I think we would have had a better fight. I was waiting Sasaki to make a mistake but him being a top professional driver he never made a mistake.

Round 4.
I had a very good start and was just bumper to bumper with Sasaki in turn 1 and in turn 2 he braked very early and I hit him in his rear bumper I didn’t know whether there was a big damage any way I knew he will do every thing to block me. In turn 4 I went faster and got to the inside but then he braked and I had no where to go as I was committed by then only thing was to brake and the surface was little bit wet due to drizzling I hit his side and had a big spin and the car stopped facing the opposite direction I couldn’t do any thing because all the cars were just behind us so I had to wait till every one go as this was the first lap every one was so close. It took almost 35 seconds of my time. By the time I got back all were gone and had only 9 laps left any way I did my best and over took 6 cars and finished 6th. It was very hard to over take many within the 9 laps because we all have the same speed and they were far ahead of me. When I finished I was only 20 seconds behind Sasaki. Sasaki won, Grant 2nd and Eddy 3rd. I was really disappointed but was a good lesson for me. Because I know how Sasaki will react in the next races and I know how do deal with it. Sasaki took pole in GT300 and won the race so it was good for him. Still I am leading in the championship and will win the next races.

Once again I must thank Speed Sri Lanka for sponsoring me and giving me courage to win these prestigious races, The Sri Lanka media, Steve Waudby my engineer and all my fans and supporters. The next 2 rounds will be in Malaysia Sepang on the 12th and 13th of July and I will be competing in the MSS also on the same day so I will be really busy with 4 races for the day.

Single-seater racing

A modern Formula One car: Michael Schumacher's Ferrari at the 2005 United States Grand Prix.Single-seater (open-wheel) racing is one of the most popular forms of motorsport, with cars designed specifically for high-speed racing. The wheels are not covered, and the cars often have aerofoil wings front and rear to produce downforce and enhance adhesion to the track. In Europe and Asia, open wheeled racing is commonly referred to as "Formula", with appropriate hierarchical suffixes. In North America, the "Formula" terminology is not followed (with the exception of F1). The sport is usually arranged to follow an "international" format (such as F1), a "regional" format (such as the Formula 3 Euro Series), or a "domestic", or county-specific format (such as the German Formula 3 championship, or the British Formula Ford).


The best-known variety of single-seater racing, Formula One, involves an annual World Championship for drivers and constructors of around 18 races a year featuring major international car and engine manufacturers, and independent constructors, such as Ferrari, McLaren, Williams, BMW Sauber, Toyota, Honda, Renault, Red Bull Racing - in an ongoing battle of technology and driver skill and talent. The sport is one of the top five watched sporting events in the world, alongside the FIFA World Cup, the Olympic Games, the Super Bowl and the UEFA European Football Championship. Formula One is, by any measure, the most expensive sport in the world, with some teams spending in excess of $400 million per year. Formula One is widely considered to be the pinnacle of motorsports, with the F1 Drivers' Championship being one of, and the oldest among, only three World Championships awarded each year by the FIA (the others being the World Touring Car Championship and the World Rally Championship). What separates Formula 1 from all other forms of open wheel racing, is the basic premise of F1 revolves around the very important issue that each team is a "constructor". That is, the chassis of the car must be designed and manufactured in-house, and chassis can not be supplied to competitors on a "customer" basis. Engines are usually funded and/or developed by established major motor manufacturers, and can be supplied exclusively to just one team, or may be offered as "customer" engines, often to the smaller, lower-ranked teams.