Jean-Yves Ranarivelo and Rila Ranaivomamiana are the Kobil Rally of Tanzania Champions after winning the sixth round of the 2011 African Rally Championship in Dar-es-salaam. The Subaru Impreza drivers become the first-ever set of competitors from Madagascar to win a round of FIA-sanctioned series in the African Continent since making their debut in the competition at the beginning of last season.

“I am over excited and very happy to win my first-ever ARC rally. Rally was good and our car was also good with no major mechanical problem. But it was scary at times to find motor bikes on the roads at speeds of 190kph,’’ said Ranaivomamianini. His victory in one of the most famous rounds of the ARC series overshadowed the anticipated battle between Zimbabwe’s Jamie Whyte and his compatriot Conrad Rautenbach, whose interest in the chase for ARC title was the focal point of the competition.

Despite finishing fourth overall in at the wheels of a hired-Subaru Impreza N16, Rautenbach still maintains the lead of the overall standings of the FIA-sanctioned series with Rwanda and Madagascar yet to host their events. “Constant overheating problems which were caused by the influx of sand that was finding its way into the radiator was a major cause of us slowing down. Mechanics changed the radiator on three different occasions, but we were never able to stop the sand from being scooped from underneath the engine due to the shape of the car,’’ said Rautenbach.

Whyte’s second overall place in Dar-es-salaam has helped him clip six points off Rautencbach’s tally at the top of the table. He is out to register a hat-trick of championship-winning streak following his wins in 2009 and 2010. “Being the first car on the road did not help us on the second day. It was just crazy and at times extremely dangerous to find big trucks on either sides of the road at those high speeds. Amazingly we were still able to set superior stage times to finish second overall,’’ said Archenoul.

The Subaru Impreza of Mohamed Essa of Zambia cruised to third place in his probably last ARC rally this year. “I am very happy with the third place. This is the end of my contest for the 2011 ARC series but may look at South Africa for one off events. The Zambian championship is still very young and has no strong opposition,’’ said Mohammed Rwanda’s Valery Bukera scored his best result in Tanzania by taking up the fifth place in the rally filled with Subaru models.

“I am excited and now looking forward to our rally in Rwanda next. The car behaved well,’’ said Bukera. Patrice Comtois and Carl Voltaire were the best-placed home drivers following their fifth-place finish at the wheel of yet another Subaru Impreza. The only brother and sister crew of Zambia’s Jassy Singh and Jasmeen Singh were forced out on the final day with transmission failure.

Aged 18, Jassy and Jasmeen are children of former African Champion, Muna Singh. They were considered to be among the youngest crews to be participating in the Kobil Rally of Tanzania. “We had all the troubles today with our car. First we broke the rear shock in the first stage before we broke both the arm and bolt joints in the later stage.’’ Asked how his sister would be of help in such cases, with a cheeky smile on his face, Jassy said “it is always a handicap but I am sure she is will be able to carry out a tyre or jack up the car.”

The Nissan 206Z of Jayant Shah and Ravi Chana was the best-placed two-wheel-drive machine in the 11th place out of the 14 finishers.

Provisional Results:

1.Ranarivelo Jean Yves/Ranaivomamiana (Subaru Impreza N12) 02:17:12;
2. James Whyte/Phil Archenoul (Subaru Impreza) 02:18:21;
3. Mohamed Essa/Greg Stead (Subaru Impreza) 02:19:04;
4.Conrad Rautenbach/Nicholas Klinger (Subaru Impreza) 02:19:13;
5. Velary Bukera/Nital Khetia (Subaru Impreza) 02:24:41;
6. Patrice Comotois (Subaru Impreza) 02:37:55;
7. Kirit Pandya/Awadh/Bafadhili (Subaru Legacy) 02:41:50;
8. Dharam Pandya/Sanjay Pandya (Subaru Impreza) 02:42:58;
9. Marco Ferreira/Ratanveer S. Darbar (Subaru Legacy) 02:49:06;
10. Pano Calavrias/Odile Kramer (Subaru Impreza) 02:50:23;
11. Jayant Shah/Ravi Chana (Nissan 260Z) 03:04:35;
12. Alain Dethise/R.Vander Veken (Subaru Impreza) 03:09:58;
13. Nizar Abba/Hetul Dilip Premji (Toyota Celica) 04:14:35.
14. Anthony John/Kurban Harjeet (Land Rover) 04:23:10. 

ARC DRIVERS CHAMPIONSHIP 2011 - After Tanzania - Round 6
1.  Conrad RAUTENBACH (Zimbabwe)    105 points
2.  James WHYTE (Zimbabwe)               94 points
3.  Alain DETHISE (Burundi)                   45 points
4. Jean-Yves RANARIVELO (Mad)          40 points
5. Mohammed ESSA (Zambia)               30 points
6.  Frederik ROKOTOMANGA (Mad)       28 points
7.  Muna SINGH (Zambia)                      24 points
8.  Schalk BURGER (South Africa)         18 points       
9.  Giancarlo DAVITE (Rwanda)              15 points
10 Valery BUKERA (Burundi)                  10 points

ARC NAVIGATORS CHAMPIONSHIP 2011 - After Tanzania Round 6

1.  Nicolas KLINGER (France)                108 points
2.  Phil ARCHENOUL (Zimbabwe)           94 points
3.  Rila RANAIVOMAMIANIRA (Mad)      40 points
4. Adam YACHINE (Mad)                       28 points
5.  David SIHOKA (Zambia)                    24 points
6.  Roland VAN DER VEKEN (Burundi)   22 points
7=  Armand DU TOIT (South Africa)         18 points 
7= Sylvia VINDEVOGEL (Rwanda)         15 points
9. Nital KETHIA (Burundi)                        9 points

MANUFACTURERS 2011 - After Tanzania Round 4
1. Subaru                      123 points
2.  Ford                         93 points
3.  Mitsubishi                18 points
4.  Toyota                     15 points

 

KOBIL RALLY OF TANZANIA - Saturday 3rd September 2011 - 21h00

End of Leg 1 - results
1. Jean-Yves Ranarivelo / Rila Ranaivamampianio Subaru 1:32:22
2. James Whyte / Phil Archenoul Subaru 1:33:46
3. Essa Mohammed / Greg Stead Subaru 1:34:38
4. Conrad Rautenbach / Nicolas Klinger 1:34:44
5. Valery Bukera / Nital Kethia Subaru 1:38:19
5. Patrice Comitos / Carl Voltaire Subaru 1:46:59
6. Fredeic Rakatomanga / Adam Yachine Subaru 1:47:14
 

 

KCB PEARL OF AFRICA UGANDA RALLY – Sunday 17^th July 2011 – 17h30
ALAIN DETHISE CLAIMS ARC HONORS AS LWAKATAKA WINS KCB UGANDA RALLY
BY SAMSON ATEKA

Burundian Alain Dethise navigated by Madagascar FSAM President Jimmy Rakotofriniga savoured his maiden FIA African Rally Championship (ARC) victory despite finishing third overall behind 2010 Rwanda Champion Christakis Fitidis and trailing Lwakataka by a massive 11.01 minutes margin.

Amiably referred to as “Mafu Mafu” by Ugandan spectators, two times Ugandan Champion Ponsiano Lwakataka was the surprise winner of the 2011 KCB Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally (POAUR).
And just like the KCB Safari Rally last month, the Ugandan tour proved quite unforgiving to foreigners with only two ARC finishers making it to the finish ramp at Oasis KCB Branch.

 The Madagascan crew of Fredrick Rakotomanaga and Adam Yachine settled for second in the continental series and 5th in the overall classification.  Susan Muwonge, the Ugandan “Super Lady” was named the best female driver when she romped home fourth overall in a day full of drama and gremlins.
But Lwakataka, who won back to back Uganda National Rally Championship (NRC) titles in 2005 and 2006, had his Pearl campaign effectively sewn up when event pace-setters Jas Mangat of Uganda and Zim oldie James Whyte retired on Leg2.
Recounting some of the tormenting moments he has had to contend with since the rally zoomed off on Friday, the Ugandan speed merchant, nevertheless, thanked God for his first ever Pearl of Africa victory.
"In fact, it has come as a big surprise to me because the way I started wasn't good. I didn't want to open the road so I took a penalty for that on Saturday. On leg 1A (spectator stage), I found myself in an unfamiliar 16th place and though the position was later overruled by stewards, such things really affected my driving. I have done my best- pushed my best and God has given me the victory," said Lwakataka.

Mangat had been the talk of town what with his new-found high-octane approach and had his Subaru Impreza N12 going at full blast in the first two days, but with just one stage to spare, he exited the rally at full pelt.  

Mangat’s game plan was to just take it easy on Sunday and get to the end but the rally gods proved otherwise.

“We were driving really safe as we didn’t have the front traction. We were just on rear drive and when we came round the corner, a pretty easy corner, we cut a bit to the right and hit an anthill,” Mangat expounded how he rolled at CS16 (Mbalala-Bibbo) stage.

This was incidentally the same spot where his compatriot Ronald Sebuguzi had rolled on Saturday.
Whyte was well on course for another ARC win until gear box gremlins forced him out in the 14^th Competitive Section at Nakifuma 3.

His retirement was indeed Conrad Rautenbach’s delight.

With three more rallies in Rwanda, Tanzania and Madagascar and 75 points up for grabs, Rautenbach still leads the ARC table standings with 93points despite opting for VW Rally South Africa this weekend.

Mangat had fought a good fight but as the old adage goes “he had not survived to seep in it” with a whole 5minutes ahead of Lwakataka at the penultimate competitive section.

“This morning (Sunday) we felt a bit nervous because we have not led in a big rally like this one. But we felt pretty confident because we had a big lead at penultimate stage,” continued Mangat.

Whyte’s navigator Phil Archenoul looked rather dejected with their Ugandan tour.

“We are a bit sad because we were hoping for a bit of an advantage on Conrad. We were comfortably on the lead of Africa-but you know Jamie races not just for the championship-Jamie races to win and we were really going for that,” explained Archenoul.

As Leg 2 zoomed off at Hotel Africana in Kampala, Mangat enjoyed a 3minutes cushion but Whyte put his stuff together and was really flying in the morning run.

“We realized that Jas (Mangat) had a problem with the centre diff so we thought it was a chance of catching him. Unfortunately, that is what happens in rallying-the gods of rallying take over-but we are still going to Tanzania and we just don’t gonna give it up to Conrad,” explained Whyte.

ARC STANDINGS AFTER UGANDA

1.Conrad RAUTENBACH (Zim) 93

2.James WHYTE  (Zim) 76

3. Alain Dethise (Bur) 25

PROVISIONAL FINAL RESULTS POAUR:
1. Ponsiano Lwakataka/Musa Nsubuga (Subaru N8-UG) 2.05.42
2. Christakis Fitidis/Eric Maxime (Subaru N12-RWA) 2.14.45
3. Alain Dethise/R. Vander Veken (Subaru N11-BUR) 2.15.16
4. Susan Muwonge/Edmond Kyeyune (Subaru N10-UG) 2.16.52
5. Dr. Ashraf Ahmed/Daniel Ayebare (Subaru-UG) 2.17.28
6. Freddy Rakotomanga/Adam Yachine (Subaru N11-MAD) 2.20.25
7. Wycliff Bukenya/Frank Serugo (EVO9-UG) 2.21.00
8. Jagjit Singh Liddar/Joseph Kamya (VW Golf-UG) 2.32.28
9. Edson Mungeyereza/Ronald Luwangula (Subaru N10-UG) 2.34.53
10. Haji Sempebwa/Uarban Mulindwa (Subaru-UG) 2.37.22
11. Geoffrey Kiaga/ Paul Nsubuga (Subaru N10-UG) 2.37.26
12. Savtinder Singh Saini/Vimal Gajjar (Subaru N8-UG) 2.41.29
13. Ismail Ortega/John Achal (Toyota Levin) 2.50.34
14. Mansoor Sanya/Abdallah Nyombi (Subaru Impreza-UG) 2.58.05
15. Frank Lubowa/Francis Wamala (Subaru-UG) 3.10.04
16. John Burrows Lumu/Shafiq Senabulya (Subaru-UG) 3.37.21

 

 TUNDO SAVORS HAT-TRICK VICTORIES AS
JAMIE WHYTE WINS ARC SAFARI RALLY KENYA – By Samson Ateka


Carl Tundo, a wheat farmer from the Great Rift Valley, savored his third career KCB Safari Rally victory as curtains came down on “The World’s Toughest Rally.”
Tundo’s calm and assured march to the final service in Isinya belied the excitement that was bubbling underneath- and at exactly 3pm, it spilled over in a solid stream of joy at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC) finish ramp.
In winning the 59^th edition of the KCB Safari Rally 2011, the son of former Safari veteran Frank Tundo,  achieved his third Safari scalp with previous victories achieved  in South Coast in 2004 and 2009 in Nairobi.  
“The game plan in the Safari was to get points, because you know if you don’t score points your championship is kind of over; so went in with a sensible head from the first day and on the third stage we realized we were leading by over a minute. We spent lots of time in preparations and made sure everything was running well,” said Tundo.
Ugandan Jas Mangat secured his career best second overall position despite trailing Tundo by a massive 8.43minutes as 1994 WRC Safari Rally winner Ian Duncan sealed the podium dash in 2.52.48hours.
Mangat was all smiles in the wake of champagne celebrations: “It feels great. It hasn’t sunk in yet; I think we will realize this tomorrow. We knew the Safari would be a long and rough rally. Towards the end, we were like four or five people fighting for the third position and at the end of the first stage in the morning they had all caught up with us, so it was a major decision to either push and get a reward or just hang around."
A jubilant Mangat was also bestowed with the inaugural Lochab Memorial Trophy for the best Sikh driver.
The trophy was donated by the Lochab Brothers from Eldoret in loving memory of the KNRC Division Three driver Randeep Singh Lochab who was killed in a grisly road accident two weeks prior to the Safari.
Tundo’s drive on Leg 1A on Saturday was peerless. He swept through the gravel rally like a tornado claiming all the five stages at stake. 
But the Two Times Kenya Champion appeared to back off in Leg Two action on Sunday which featured three stages around Konza, Kipeto and Olekajiado.
As Tundo backed off, youngster Quentin Mitchell set the fastest stage time on CS7 (Konza 2-Olekajuado) while Mangat took CS8 in Kipeto as Duncan wrapped up his Safari campaign with winning CS9.
Behind Tundo was a spirited FIA African Rally Championship (ARC) battle pitting Champion Jamie Whyte and his Zimbabwean counterpart Conrad Rautenbach.
As at CS8 end, Whyte was well on course for a second place but dipped to fourth overall place after the Zimbabwean picked up a puncture on the last stage around Kipeto. “I am happy with the ARC win. I was not really worried with the outright win. My main worry was to keep Conrad at bay,” commented Whyte.
Kenya’s former Pirelli Star finalist Raaji Singh Bharij relished a fifth career best Safari finish with Conrad Rautenbach settling for sixth overall. But Rautenbach romped home second in the ARC class. However, Whyte had to contend with playing second fiddle to Rautenbach who consolidated his lead in the ARC fray. After four rounds, Rautenbach leads the ARC class with 93points with Jamie waiting to pounce with 76 points.
After a bothersome drive on Leg 2, Madagascans Jean Yves Ranarivelo and Rila Ranaivomamianina settled for ninth overall position and a credible third in the ARC class on their Safari debut! Ranarivelo charged quite aggressively with a joint second fastest time in Friday’s Jamhuri Spectators stage and 4^th fastest on CS3 and CS4 but had his spirited fight was stymied with two punctures in the latter stages.
Full provisional results (ARC registered drivers in bold)
1.         Carl Tundo/ Tim Jessop –Kenya (Evo 9) 2.43.45 hrs
2.         Jas Mangat/ Gihan De Silnva –Uganda- (Subaru N12) 2.52.28
3.         Ian Duncan/ Amaar Slatch – Kenya- (Evo 9) 2.52.48
4.         James Whyte/ Philip Archenoul – Zimbabwe (Subaru N10) - 2.54.14
5.         Raaji Bharij/ Raju Chaggar- Kenya- Subaru N10- 2.54.40
6.         Conrad Rautenbach/ Nicholas Klinger –Zim- (FordS2000)2.55.24
7.         Quentin Mitchelle/ Tim Challen-Kenya- (Subaru N16)-2.55.56
8.         Hardeep Rehsi/ Ravi Soni- Kenya-(Evo 9)- 2.58.36
9.         Jean-Y Ranarivelo/ RRanaivomamiani – Mad- (Subaru N12) 2.59.02
10.        Imran Mogul/ Mutuma Marimba – Kenya- (Subaru N10)-2.59.02
11.        Christakis Fiditis/ Guy Dekelver- Rwanda- (Subaru N12)-3.02.28
12.        Izhar Mirza/ Zahir Shah- Kenya- (Evo 9)-3.02.49
13.        Valery Bukera/ Nital Khetia- Burundi- (Subaru N10) -3.04.20
14.        Ronald Ssebuguzi/ Cedric Buzabo- Uganda-(Evo 9)- 3.06.23
15.        Alain Dethise/ Ronald Vanderveken- Burundi- (Subaru N11)- 3.06.23
16.        Onkar Rai/ Andrew Doig –Kenya- (Subaru N12)-3.15.19
17.        Sandeep Jandu/ Gurdeep Mehangra- Kenya -(Subaru N10)-3.16.44
18.        Khurram Butt/ Salim Khan-Kenya- Subaru N10)-3.22.02
19.        Said Hamad/Victor Okundi- Kenya- (Subaru N10)- 3.27.30
20.        Fredrick Rakotomanga/ Adam Yachine-Mad-(Subaru N11) 3.33.53
21.        Jitendra Dhokia/ Gurdeep Panesar- Kenya-(Subaru Impreza)- 3.54.05
22.        Aakif Virani/ Azhar Bhatti- Kenya- (Subaru N10)- 4.23.26
23.        Mital Shah/ Ravi Channiyara- Kenya- (Subaru N8)- 4.49.44
 
Supplementary class provisional results
1.         Jasmeet Chana/ George Njoroge –Kenya- (Toyota Celica GT4) 3.21.43
2.         Alfir Khan/ Mohamed Kana- Kenya- Subaru Impreza-3.30.11
3.         Shazar Anwar/ Job Njiru –Kenya- (Hybrid Pickup)- 3.32.28
4.         Issa Amwari/ James Mwangi- Kenya- Subaru Impreza-3.45.44
5.         Edward Maina/ Tony Kimondo-Kenya- Toyota Celica- 3.59.01
6.         Paras Pandya/ Roy Mckenzie –Kenya- Subaru Impreza- 4.05.47
7.         Farhaan Khan/ Thabit Kandwalla-Kenya- Subaru Impreza- 4.06.01
8.         M Noormohammed/ Shameer Yusuf – Kenya- Subaru Impreza-4.11.30
9.         Johnathen Somen/ Richard Hechle- Ford Escort- 4.22.01
10.        Pauline Sheghu/ Hillary Kipchillat- Kenya- Subaru Impreza- 4.49.47          

2WD Class provisional results
1.         Jagjit Sighn/ Pinal Patel –Uganda- (VW Golf)- 2.12.18
2.         Patrick Kibaara/ Nehreen Ismail – Kenya-2.12.25
3.         Niaz Bashir/ Jonathan Kosgei- Kenya- Toyota Celica-2.14.43
4.         Joel Muchiri/ Riyaz Ismael- Kenya- Toyota Levin- 2.22.24
5.         Naveed Khalid/ Adnan Din- Kenya- Toyota Levin- 2.24.19
6.         Nick Patel/ Andy McDononall- Kenya- Mercedes Benz 2.31.57
7.         Adnan Suhail/ Absalom Aswani- Kenya- Daihatsu Charade2.32.40
8.         Dennis Mwenda/ Shakil Umar- Kenya-VW Golf-2.47.02
9.         James Kirimi/ Kiremi Korir- Kenya- VW Golf-2.54.17
10.        Rashid Kabi/ Eric Nzuva- Kenya- Peugeot 206- 2.55.49
11.        Gideon Kimani/ Laban Cliff- Kenya- Toyota Levin- 3.00.22

Conrad Rautenbach splashing through the muddy route to overall victory in his Ford Fiesta S2000 during the 2011 Sasol Rally South  Africa  which ended in Nelspruit South Africa yesterday.

 

 

Conrad Rautenbach flying to victory in the Toyota Zimbabwe Challenge Rally 2011 to win after leading from start to finish. He was navigated by French co-driver Nicolas Klinger and drove his Ford Fiesta S2000.