• Probe reports yet shrouded in mystery?

Fourteen months after the country’s worst ever motor racing catastrophe – the 2025 Fox Hill Supercross, is set to roll again on 28 and 29 June, as per the year planner, released by the Administrative Committee, formed to oversee the sport, in place of the dissolved Sri Lanka Automobile Sports (SLAS).

The tragic accident at Diyatalawa on 21 April 2024, claimed close to 10 lives and saw 20 others suffering injuries and it prompted immediate probes by both the SL Army and SLAS.

The Army appointed a seven-member committee of its own, led by a Major General to probe the incident, focusing on factors such as spectator safety and track standards. 

Similarly, the SLAS before its suspension, initiated an independent investigation headed by a retired High Court Judge.

Despite these initiatives, as of last month and nearly 12 months later, neither entity has publicly released a final report pertaining to the horrific incident.

And it is in this background, that this year’s edition of the country’s once most popular Supercross, is set to take place in two month’s time, as per the SLAS events calendar.

Furthermore, with the Fox Hill Supercross set to commence in late June, questions still remain as to the effectiveness of safety protocols in this country’s motorsports sphere.

According to motor racing analysts, the decision taken by the authorities to press ahead with this year’s Fox Hill Supercross, despite their inability to hold anyone accountable for the unprecedented 2024 tragedy, after nearly one-year, prompts more questions than answers.

In light of these circumstances, how the motor racing spectators will warm up for this year’s event at Diyatalawa, is left to be seen.

Another pressing fact that must also not be overlooked, is that the failure of the authorities to publicise the findings of their respective probes, has also seriously hindered the delivery of justice for the victims and their families.

Hence, the success or failure of this year’s event at Diyatalawa – which was only revived last year, after a five-year break due to the Easter Sunday terror blasts, may largely hinge on that, motor racing analysts contend.

The race in question came to a grinding halt after two competitors hit a section of the track, directly colliding onto flag marshals and a section of the spectators. 

The remainder of the race events were called off soon after, following the death of seven individuals and more than 20 being injured.

Among the injured were the drivers of the two cars that were involved with the incident, and they too were admitted to the Diyatalawa Base Hospital. 

A day later, both drivers, aged 36 and 47, were arrested by the Police and were ordered to be remanded until 30 April 2024 for causing mayhem through their ‘reckless driving’.

Efforts made by The Daily Morning Sports, to contact officials from the SL Army and dissolved SLAS, to ascertain their views on the decision taken to stage this year’s Fox Hill, without due diligence done over the previous year’s calamity, proved to be unsuccessful.

Meanwhile, the year planner for 2025 formulated by the Administrative Committee, shows six other Supercross events lined up, those being Cavalry Supercross from 17-18 May at Katana and on 24-25 May at Pangolla.

The Cavalry Supercross is set to make way for the Southern Supercross from 31 May to 1 June at Udawalawa, which will be followed by the Fox Hill Supercross.

It will be followed by the Walawa Supercross on 11-12 July at Udawalawa and afterwards motor racing fans could look forward to the Gunners Supercross on 26-27 July at Minneriya.

The SLARDAR Supercross will take place on 9-10 August at Giriulla, while it will be followed by the year’s final Supercross event-the Gajaba Supercross on 23-24 August at Saliyapura.

The SLAS events calendar also makes way for four Hill Climbs, those being Magasthota at Nuwara Eliya from 5-6 April, Single Tree also at Nuwara Eliya from 6-7 April, the Kithul Kanda at Padukka from 14-15 June and the Kotmale Climb from 6-7 December.

Among other racing events that will be interspersed with the major track events for this year, will be the Mahameruwa RallyCross (1) at Giriulla late this month, Karting Slalom Round 3 at Bandaragama on 17 August, Mahameruwa RallyCross (2) at Giriulla on 13-14 September, Asia Pacific MotorSports Championship at Bandaragama from 26-28 September, Rotherham Katukurunda from 4-5 October, Katukurunda Circuit Meet from 18-19 October and the NMSC National Rally at Negombo from 22-23 November.

The events calendar will be overseen by an administrative committee including officials from nine clubs involved in the motor sports arena, after SLAS was suspended in May 2024 by previous Sports Minister Harin Fernando.