Mindspark by Thehan Wanasinghe
Born on 24 June 1963 in Kurunegala. Sri Lankan of the Year in 2018. Over 400 podiums. Three-time champion of the 24-hour Japanese Tokachi. Champion of the 2016 Asia Super Trofeo, 2016. He is a sporting legend who brought honour to Sri Lanka so many times. This is none other than Dilantha Malagamuwa, and here’s what he shared with us.
What made you get into racing?
When I was 14, I watched a movie called Silver Dream Racer. It was about a motorbike racer who never gave up no matter what hardships he came across. Throughout the race, he found it difficult to catch up until he overtook his opponents. At the end, he crossed the finish line first, but suddenly his front wheel came off and he crashed into the wall. Disastrously, he died then and there. So I thought that I must continue the story and that’s what inspired me.
You’ve been racing cars for 30 years now. What has been your favourite track so far?
I adore all of the tracks that I have been able to drive on. But the most difficult and challenging is the Macau street circuit.
How did you start racing Lamborghinis?
I used to drive Aston Martins and Porsches until 2009. After that, I was racing a Porsche 997 GT3 Cup at Macau and I overtook British racing driver Danny Watts who was in third place. Then, the team that produced the Lamborghini GT3 race car recognised my talent and approached me to ask whether I would like to race their Gallardo GT3. I said yes. When I was given the car, we won the championship in Asia.
How do you practise your racing skills?
In Europe, drivers have many circuits to practise their driving. Unfortunately, Sri Lanka does not have any circuits for racers to practise. So I use a driving simulator called a Logitech. Additionally, I picture the race track in my mind with a stopwatch. This helps my mental stamina.
Would you be able to be successful without your crew members?
Definitely not. The mechanics of Dilango Racing help me a lot in order to configure the car to my needs. The engineer gives me advice based on the weather, track conditions, etc. One of the best companions of my team is Ashan Silva. He started travelling to races with me from 2018 and I gave the radio to him (the radio is the way of communication between the racer and the team during a race). It’s way easier as he can speak to me in Sinhalese and there are no miscommunications. I also ask him to talk to me only when I’m driving on the straights, because if he talks to me while I’m tackling a tricky corner, I may lose attention.
If you could have any road car, what would it be?
This is an interesting question. If I’m honest with you, I absolutely love classic cars. I’d go for a 1964 Lamborghini Miura. It’s a notoriously difficult car to drive, but that’s what makes it enjoyable for me!
What is your next championship?
The championship is called the “Lamborghini Super Trofeo Europe”. My teammate is Italian and his name is M. Mantovani. It’s been a year since I’ve raced due to Covid-19 and I’m very excited. The championship has five rounds and each round has two races. The races that I’ll be participating in will be on 10 and 11 October at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Spain; 24 and 25 October at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium; and 14 and 15 November at Circuit Paul Ricard, France. You will be able to watch my races on the “Lamborghini Squadra Corse” YouTube channel.
Finally, in your opinion, what makes a champion?
I think you must have a positive mindset and always believe in yourself, even if you fail. Also, you must be extremely committed. For example, most of my time is spent on training. Personally, I don’t drink alcohol or smoke. Whenever I go for a race, I don’t think about my opponents; I tell myself that I have to win the race and therefore I start with a growth mindset! There’s a quote that I always refer to: “It is only when you do something with true passion that you become the very best.”
The championship is called the “Lamborghini Super Trofeo Europe”. My teammate is Italian and his name is M. Mantovani. It’s been a year since I’ve raced due to Covid-19 and I’m very excited. The championship has five rounds and each round has two races. The races that I’ll be participating in will be on 10 and 11 October at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Spain; 24 and 25 October at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium; and 14 and 15 November at Circuit Paul Ricard, France. You will be able to watch my races on the “Lamborghini Squadra Corse” YouTube channel.
Finally, in your opinion, what makes a champion?
I think you must have a positive mindset and always believe in yourself, even if you fail. Also, you must be extremely committed. For example, most of my time is spent on training. Personally, I don’t drink alcohol or smoke. Whenever I go for a race, I don’t think about my opponents; I tell myself that I have to win the race and therefore I start with a growth mindset! There’s a quote that I always refer to: “It is only when you do something with true passion that you become the very best.”