• SL’s first racer to win a Euroformula Open Championship, Yevan David on racing for his country

He is 17 years old, a karting and racing prodigy, and became the first Sri Lankan to score a Euroformula Open Victory – a major single-seater event in the racing world.  He secured a victory at Monza, Italy, and clinched multiple podium finishes, recording Sri Lanka’s first-ever pole position in the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (International Automobile Federation) (FIA) Motorsport Games Formula 4 Cup. A familiar face on ‘Kaleidoscope’, Yevan David was back this week to discuss his rise in motorsports history, putting Sri Lanka on the motor racing circuit, and his plans for the future.

Following are excerpts from the interview:

You secured Sri Lanka’s first pole position in the FIA Motorsport Games Formula 4 Cup. That’s a milestone. How did you prepare for it and what has changed after that win?

It was definitely an amazing milestone for me. It was the last race of the year, so to end last year (2024) like that was amazing. Two years before that (2022), I participated in the Motorsport Games in karting, where I got the silver medal. Coming back in Formula 4 was already a surreal feeling because stepping up was just incredible. On Saturday morning, I didn’t know what to expect in practice. I wasn’t even in the top five in terms of timing, but I believed in myself. I knew I could do it. Despite the rain that morning, I achieved pole position. After that, I gained a lot more confidence and self-belief and was super happy with that result.

Your win at Monza, no doubt, had ups, downs, thrills, and stories; anything behind the scenes that we don’t know about?

There are definitely a few stories about that one. Going into that weekend, it was my first race in the Euroformula car; it was my first race at Monza as well and it happened to be raining. 

In qualifying, I finished second, which was pretty good. In the first race, I took the lead and was ahead by about five seconds, but as the conditions changed and the pressures shifted, I started to lose a lot of speed. There was a massive battle towards the end of the race, but I ended up winning anyway, so that was very good. I achieved another win the next day. It was an incredible feeling because that was my first win in a car, and at Monza as well. I couldn't believe it. My whole family was there for that race, which made it even more special. I was very, very happy. 

You’ve always had your parents in the stands cheering for you, but now you have a whole team behind you, which puts you in a different league. How does that feel?

It’s very different. Obviously, you have a team, like the engineers and the mechanics, behind you. But, it’s not only that; I have my manager, coach, and fitness coach, all supporting me. This is a team that began working with me last year. To have them behind me and to have their trust is an incredible feeling.

Any key moments or decisions that were pivotal to this progression that you’ve achieved up to now?

The first half was quite difficult for me last year. I was going through a lot of self-doubt. I didn’t know how to approach the races in a structured way. I kept trying to change my mental approach before races, experimenting with different mindsets, but I kept getting the same results. Then, I spoke to my parents in July, who basically said: “Stick to one structure.”

I spoke to my manager and fitness coach as well and they said the same. I chose to believe in myself and in them. Right after that talk, in the next race, I got my first podium position. That showed me that that talk was necessary. That conversation with my parents and manager really helped. From then on, I believed in myself more and got rid of the self-doubt in the second half of the season. That’s when things like Monza and the Motorsport Games started to happen.

Have you always wanted to represent Sri Lanka?

Absolutely. I started racing here in Sri Lanka. This is my homeland. I’ve always wanted to represent it.

There are pressures and expectations when you represent a country. How do you manage this?

I see all the support and people telling me, “take Sri Lanka to F1. We’re all behind you”. I see that as encouragement and motivation. It’s honestly so nice to see all the support that I get from Sri Lanka and I consider that support, not pressure. 

Any particular race or competitor who has significantly contributed to where you are today?

Last year, after my talk with my parents and manager, the race that followed where I got my first podium was pivotal. It was a funny weekend because it was my first time ever driving that car, that track, and it was raining, but I managed to finish seventh in the points table and get my first podium on the same weekend. The fact that it happened under such tough circumstances showed the potential that I had. That definitely shaped me into who I’m now. It was only six months ago, but it was a pivotal moment last year.

What is it that drives you?

It’s knowing that I’ve been doing this my whole life. It’s engraved in my blood. I started when I was six years old. What drives me is the love for racing, going fast, and obviously, the drive to be faster than anyone else.

How has iRacing influenced your actual competition?

When Covid began and we were all in lockdown, I was 12 years old. In March 2020, I got a simulator. That was probably the day that I should have invested in some glasses because I was spending six or seven hours a day on iRacing. I was playing all day, every day. I still do iRacing two to three hours a day. For the last five years that I’ve been doing iRacing, it has really helped. When I started, I was very slow, but now, I’m at a decent level. The realism of the simulator helps in real life, so it’s been a huge help.

At 17, you’ve achieved milestones that many young people aspire to. How do you balance the demands of racing, personal life, and education?

I started Advanced Levels (A/L) in September 2024 and it’s online. I have around one class a day, so I manage that, along with flights. I study on flights. During race weekends, I try not to do any schoolwork so that I can focus fully on racing. Before and after race weekends, I fully focus on school. It’s 100% one or 100% the other. That way, I don’t do things halfway. In terms of my personal life, it can be difficult to spend time with friends and switch off, but during breaks like summer and winter, I make time to recharge with them.

You’ve been behind the wheel since you were six. What gave you this thrill for speed?

As a six year old, my adrenaline was sky-high. Driving my own car – something that I could control – was something that I loved. I raced every weekend. The pure fun of racing is what carried me through the start of my career and still does. That’s what fuels me and that’s why I started.

What are your aspirations in motorsports? How do you plan to build on what you have achieved?

My goal is to reach my full potential. I want to be in Formula One and be the first Sri Lankan driver to do it. But, beyond that, my personal goal is to maximise my potential and achieve everything that I can.

Sri Lanka is not a motorsports destination. It’s considered an expensive sport, and young talent isn’t always nurtured. Do you think that this will change?

I think that it will. The motorsports community in Sri Lanka is growing. There are a few tracks now. More people are getting into racing. Almost everyone that I know watches Formula One now, which wasn’t the case seven or eight years ago. I believe that we will see more Sri Lankan drivers racing internationally in the future.

What’s next for you in education and motorsports?

I will be finishing my A/Levels next year, so I’m fully focused on that. In terms of racing, I’ll be competing at the European F3 level this year, which will be confirmed soon. My goal is to win as many races and championships as possible on my way to F1. But ultimately, success is the result of the process. My main focus is on perfecting my laps and executing the fundamentals; those are what create results.

Have you set yourself a timeline for getting into F1?

The projected timeline is F3 next year, and then, I hope to race in F2 the year after (2027) or two years after (2029). So, we’re looking at F1 in 2029 or 2030.

(The writer is the host, director, and co-producer of the weekly digital programme ‘Kaleidoscope with Savithri Rodrigo’ which can be viewed on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. She has over three decades of experience in print, electronic, and social media)