Three young Sri Lankan racing drivers travelled to Chennai this weekend with a shared ambition: to prove themselves against some of India’s emerging motorsport talent.
By the end of the opening round of the MRF Indian National Racing Challenge, they had collected three race victories, a podium finish and a top-ten result, despite a weekend that tested both their skill and resilience.
Kaveen Rajapaksha, Aadam Junaid and Saurika Livindu competed in the Formula LGB 1300 Junior class at the Madras International Circuit from 21 to 23 August. All three race for Mora Racing in Sri Lanka and joined India’s Momentum Motorsports for the championship weekend.
Their participation reflects a growing pathway for Sri Lankan drivers seeking opportunities beyond the country’s domestic racing scene.
A challenging start
The weekend began with qualifying, where the three Sri Lankan drivers finished close together on the grid. Kaveen qualified 13th, Saurika 14th and Aadam 15th.
With three races ahead, the starting positions left plenty of ground to make up. For Kaveen, however, they proved to be only the beginning.
Three races, three victories
Kaveen Rajapaksha delivered a strong and composed performance across the weekend, winning all three Junior-class races.
His results reflected the experience he has developed through karting and Formula 1300 racing in Sri Lanka. Maintaining a consistent pace and adapting well to the demands of the Chennai circuit, he made the most of each race to complete a clean sweep.
For a young Sri Lankan driver competing on an international stage, the three victories marked an encouraging start to the championship.
Promise despite mechanical setbacks
For Aadam Junaid and Saurika Livindu, the weekend brought a different kind of challenge.
Both drivers encountered engine problems that disrupted their races and led to multiple retirements. Even so, each found an opportunity to demonstrate what was possible when their cars performed as expected.
Aadam recovered to finish third in Race 2, securing a podium despite the mechanical difficulties that affected his weekend.
Saurika, meanwhile, fought back to finish ninth in Race 3, ending the event with a hard-earned top-ten result.
Their performances offered a glimpse of their potential and showed that, with greater reliability, both could be competitive as the championship continues.
A step forward for Sri Lankan motorsport
Beyond the individual results, the weekend highlighted the progress of young drivers emerging from Sri Lanka’s racing scene.
Through Mora Racing’s Formula 1300 program, Kaveen Rajapaksha, Aadam Junaid and Saurika Livindu have developed their skills at home before taking on the challenge of competing abroad. Their partnership with Momentum Motorsports provided an opportunity to test that experience in a new environment against a wider field of competitors.
Three wins, a podium and a top ten finish tell part of the story. The bigger picture is that Sri Lankan drivers are finding opportunities beyond their borders and showing they have the ability to make them count.
