2010 ARC Registration Form

Double African Rally Champions Jamie Whyte and Phil Archenoul finally achieved success on their home event when the pair powered their Subaru Impreza N10 to a dominant victory on the 2010 Toyota Zimbabwe Challenge Rally.

The action was always going to be fierce during the three day event as there were no less than three former champions amongst the 21 entries. Former Citroen WRC driver Conrad Rautenbach set the initial pace when he beat his own stage record around the opening test! Rautenbach, now driving a Ford Fiesta Super 2000 machine, was the man to beat over the opening six stages but was destined for retirement when the power steering failed on his car.

This then allowed Craig Green in a Mitsubishi to take the overall lead but with both Jamie Whyte (Zimbabwe) and Muna Singh (Zambia) close behind the rally was far from over. Singh, a former African Champion, lost time towards the end of the second day with a damaged rear differential but still entered the third and final leg third overall.

Sunday saw the remaining crews tackle a further seven stages before returning to the Rainbow Towers back in Harare for the ceremonial finish. Green was the first front runner to experience problems as his transmission failed. This elevated Rwandan Giancarlo Davite into third position. But the Subaru pilot then had an off road adventure on the penultimate stage and lost two wheels on his Subaru! Fastest through this test was junior driver Quentin Mitchell, from Kenya, and such was his time that the 24 year old was elevated to third overall!

With Whyte, the 2009 and 2010 African Rally Champion, now holding a comfortable lead of over two minutes over Muna Singh, the final spectator stage was a mere formality as the Subaru pilot took his first ever home victory on this challenging rally!

The Toyota Zimbabwe Challenge Rally was also the scene for the African Pirelli Star Driver selection. Two young talents would be chosen to represent Africa in the worldwide Pirelli Star Driver programme. Zimbabwe Chase Attwell and Zambian Mohammed Essa were both chosen after setting impressive stage times before ultimately retiring their respective Subarus’.

Muna Singh and David Sihoka on the winners podium after taking a narrow victory of 50 seconds from James Whyte of Zimbabwe.

Muna Singh wins Zambia International Rally 2010
James Whyte and Phil Archenoul are the 2010 African Rally Champions

Chisamba, Sunday 17h00 By Ignatius Mazeko

TWO-time FIA African Rally Championship (ARC) winners, Muna Singh and Dave Sihoka this afternoon retained the Zambia International Rally crown in dramatic fashion on the final day of the 476.54-km competition in Chisamba.

Muna and Sihoka, who won back-to-back African titles in 2004 and 2005, overtook overnight leaders Mohammed Essa and his caretaker Uganda co-driver Moses Matovu who were favoured to win the event in a Subaru Impreza N11 following their dominance on Friday and yesterday. Unfortunately for the 21-year-old Essa, his chances evaporated through fumes of smoke after the engine of his Madison General Insurance Company Zambia (MGen) backed car caught fire when entering Service after the 33.60-km MSF/ Chaloshi 11th stage.

Muna, who won last year title in similar fashion after trailing Essa
in the first three days, again capped a fantastic display on the last day to win the day after timing 2:59:32, just under a minute ahead of Zimbabweans Jamie Whyte and Philip Archenoul, who by emerging second effectively retained the African titles.

Muna, who had shown composure even when trailing Team Madison Racing mate Essa on the first two days, recalled his vast racing experience according to the script and only needed the first stage of the morning, 33.60-km MSF/ Chaloshi, to wipe out Essa’s 16-second overnight lead.

By the second stage, 16.78-km Westage, Muna at the wheels of a Subaru N10, had established a 10 second lead and his cause was aided by an unforeseen fire that torched the engine of Essa’s car following a fuel leak as the 21-year-old was entering the Service Park at Fringilla.

With rallying it’s not over until it’s over. We knew that we had two big stages today and we pushed hard on the first stage. By the end of the first stage we already had the rally by the scruff of the neck, Muna said.

The 2007 Zambian champion, however, commiserated with his team-mate Essa saying he would have loved to be in first and second position with his younger compatriot, who is among the four young African drivers nominated to compete in
next month’s Africa Pirelli Star Driver (PSD) shoot out.

Whyte, who finished 50 seconds behind Muna, was ecstatic about retaining the African title but the veteran Zimbabwean was still complaining about not winning the Zambian International Rally for the umpteenth time.

This is the third time this Subaru N10 is winning the African title after talented compatriot Conrad Rautenbach, who campaigned in the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) last season, romped to the winner’s podium in 2007.

I am just thanking my service crew for a job well done. Am very happy to retain the African title though sad that the Zambia International Rally has still not been good for me, but I came close to winning it today, he said.

A downcast Essa was left to rue the efforts of the first two days that culminated into watching his chances of claiming his maiden Zambia International rally disappear at the same pace as smoke from his burning engine was getting integrated into the clouds.

After the fire was quenched his panic stricken service crew, joined by his father, retired driver Khalid Essa, tried in vain to start the car but that was to be the end of his participation in the rally with the Subaru N11 only managing to leave on a tow truck.

Essa explained that he noticed the problem during the 33.60-km MSF/ Chalosh after Muna had evidently sliced into his overnight lead and tried to push the car but it only lived up to the proverbial adage of forcing a horse to the river, but not to drink water.

We lost our lead to Muna in the first stage but we pushed hard in the second stage and managed to cut his lead to only three seconds. I know my time will come since even Jamie has never won this rally for 30 years, mourned Essa.

Paul Monge and Ray Thornicroft (Subaru N12B) were 12 minutes and 32 seconds behind Muna in third position while Ken â?~Ntengwa mubiliâ?T Mukosa and Nashi Chisenga (Subaru N8) were 27 minutes and 22 seconds off the pace in fourth position.
Azim Ticklay and Osward Chibebe (Toyota Landcruiser) tail-ended in a distant fifth, 52 minutes 49 seconds behind Muna. Mukosa attempted to make a triumphant entry into the Service Park by exhibiting a doughnut about a kilometre before the end of the final stage, 16.78-km Westage, but his ill-timed decision almost backfired when his car caught fire under the bonnet to exhaust the Amerex Fire’s sponsorship to the rally.
The Monze-based was fined K2 million for his troubles because it forbidden to perform such activities on the stage. Rwandan Giancarlo Davite and Sylvia Vindevogel (Subaru N11), who crushed out yesterday re-entered the race this morning under SupeRally alongside Muna’s son Jassy Singh and Liam Jolly (VW Golf 3) where they both busked in billowing Chisamba.

On an incident parked day, Geoffrey Chulu his brother Lastone Chulu (Toyota Corolla) mis-timed a bend at Westgate farm and rammed into a camera mounted on a tripod stand but luckily its owner, a rally-mad Ugandan cameraman Dean Mac Kasasa was in harm’s way at the time. Such things happen in rally, it is part of the sport. It is not the first time that it is happening to me I have lost five to six cameras in similar fashion, Kasasa said.

The gruelling six-event 2010 African championship series comes to an end in Zimbabwe next month end. There were five finishers from 11 starters.

Final Results:
1. Muna Singh/ Dave Sihoka (Subaru N10) 2:59:35
2. Jamie Whyte/ Phil Archenoul (Subaru N10) +50
3. Paul Monge/ Ray Thornicroft (Subaru N12B) +12:36
4. Ken Mukosa/ Nash Chisenga (Subaru N8) +27:22
5. Azim Ticklay/ Osward Chibebe (Landcruiser) +52:49

Retirements:
1. Mohammed Essa/ Moses Matovu (Subaru N11) - SS11 (engine)
2. Dani Beaini/ Adrian Sutherland (Landcruiser) - SS6
3. Jassy Singh/ Liam Jolly (VW Gold 3) - SS3 (electrical)
4. Giancarlo Davite/ Sylvia Vindevogel (Subaru N11) - SS3 (rear shaft)
5. Geoffrey Chulu/ Lastone Chulu (Corolla) - SS3
6. Ashish Patel/ Mali Chulu (Subaru N6) - SS2 (gearbox

ZAMBIA International Rally – Saturday 17^th July 2010 - 21h30

MOHAMMED Essa has established a much healthier lead in the 32nd Zambia International Rally breaking further away from the chasing pack with a 16 seconds cushion.
The 21-year-old Essa who led with just a second after the twice run super special stage on Friday at the Lusaka Motor Club in the Showgrounds has now amassed a 16 seconds lead with a time of 1:49:18 seconds.
The son of former driver Khalid Essa used some youth exuberance flying over jumps and negotiating bends with abandoned ease as the Chisamba natives applauded.
Essa had some problems including having his passage blocked on the fourth stage in Chaloshi area but still came out unscathed to take a commanding lead.
“Yesterday we were leading by a second but today it has gone to more than 10 seconds, this shows that we are doing fine,” he said. Essa said he was waiting for the organisers to take action bout the blocked road he found in the fourth stage after the Zero car took a wrong route.
“Tomorrow (today) I want to push harder, I think this is my year to win the Zambia International rally, with due respect to the other crews,” he said.
Defending champion Muna Singh has sneaked into second position taking over from African champion, Zimbabwean Jamie Whyte who has been relegated into third position.
Muna who posted a timing of 1:49:34 said he broke one of his windows and had to contend with some dust in the car but is still hopeful of overturning the tables.
The former two-time African champion who won last year’s championship on the last day after trailing Essa promised to repeat the feat.
“So far so good, we didn’t have too many problems like we had on Friday. Some branches on the way broke our window but everything is fine,” he said.
Whyte who was in second position after the spectator stage with just a second behind the Zambian youngster dropped to 47 points and into third place.
The veteran Zimbabwean thwarted any questions from the media as he was personaly involved in the service of his car after the first day proceedings came to a close.
Another Zambian Paul Monge finished fourth on 1:55:07 to close the top four competitive bracket ahead of Kenny ‘Ntengo mubuli’ Mukosa. Rwandan Giancarlo Davite was the first major casualty after tumbling out in the second stage of the day.
The Rwanda champion was joined on the casualty list by Ashish Patel, Geoffrey Chulu, Jassy Singh and Dani Beaini who entered the super rally after being slapped with five minute penalty plus the fastest stage time of 1:33 recorded by Essa on the second run of Friday’s super special spectator stage.
Today the rally takes four stages within the Fringilla Farm block before the crews head for the finish at the Intercontinental Hotel in Lusaka.

Classified results
Essa 1:49:18
Muna 1:49:34
Whyte 1:50:05
Monge 1:55:07
Mukosa 2:05:19
Ticklay 2:20:07

Zambia International Rally 16th July 2010
ARC Round 5 - 17h30

20 year old Mohammed Essa leads the
first two runs of the super special
stage held in Lusaka. 11 cars started the rally.
1. Mohammed Essa 3:11
2. Giancarlo Davite 3:12
3. Jamie Whyte 3:13
4. Muna Singh 3:16
5. Paul Monge 3:17
6. Musoka 3:19

KCB Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally 2010

Sunday 6th June 2010 -

13h45
Final results have been declared and the provisional standings for the first four positions are Provisionally:

1st. Rudy Cantanhede / David Israel - Subaru - 1:57:07
2nd Giancarlo Davite / Sylvia Vindevogel - Subaru- 1:57:13
3rd James Whyte / Phil Archenoul - Subaru - 1:57:26
4th Jas Mangat / Ravi Soni - Subaru - 2:00:18

All other results are pending Stewards decision to award a fair time to those affected by the interruption.
All cars are now on their way back to Kigali and the finish podium will be held at 16h00.

13h30
Final stage No. 12 has been canceled for the ambulances all have been sent to the accident site. 

11h45
Stage 11 - First 4 cars pass through the stage and 5th car Lee Rose and Frank Gitau crash 500m before the end of Stage 11 and go off the road hitting spectators. Unconfirmed reports are that several villagers are injuried and the stage has been stopped. Medical rescue ambulances have gone into the stage.

Saturday 5th June 2010
End of Leg 1B - 20h30
1. Giancarlo Davite / Sylvia Vindevogel - Subaru 1:25:21
2. Jame Whyte / Phil Archenoul - Subaru 1:25:26
3. Rudy Cantanhede / David Israel - Subaru 1:25:31
4. Jas Mangat / Ravi Soni - Subaru 1:27:22
5. Ian Duncan / Amaar Slatch - Mustang 1:29:41*
6. Oliver Costa / Andrew Doig - Subaru 1:30:09
7. Izhar Mirza / Zahir Shah - Mitsubishi 1:31:39
8. Anthony Nielsen / Elodie Sampere - Mitsubishi 1:34:09
9. Roland Sebuguzi / Cerderic Bubazo - Mitsubishi 1:35:53
10. Iain Freestone / Raja Sehmi - Ford Escort - 1:36:22*
11. Charles Muhangi / Bashiel Mbogo - Subaru 1:36:46
12. Fitides Christakis / Guy Delekver - Subaru 1:37:31
* Supplementary Rally cars

ARC 2010 Championship leader James Whyte and Phil Archenoul in action in front of 14000 spectators during the spectator stage of the KCB Uganda ARC Rally. Whyte went on to win this event to secure a big lead in the championship.

Rwandans Christakis Fitides and Guy Delekver in their Subaru scored second highest in the ARC points for the KCB Uganda rally seen here at the end of the stage with many thousands of spectators.

-- James Whyte Sweeps everything as KCB POAUR ends...more

-- Adrenaline as Rally Table overturns in Luwero.... more

For latest results and news on the KCB Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally go to the website below.

James Whyte and Phillip Archenoul of Zimbabwe were the top placed ARC registered crew in the KCB Safari Rally Kenya held from 2-4th April 2010. Also the full ARC podium with second placed Giancarlo Davite and Sylvia Vindevogel (Rwanda) and Alain Dethise and Fabrice Masafiri (Burundi)

Pirelli Star Driver Competition 2010 - Launched

The 2010 Pirelli Star Driver competition has major rule changes from last year. The qualifying age for contestants has been reduced from 27 to 25, they must be 25 years old or under on 31st December 2010.

The format of the competition and the prize are also different. Each of the five regions – Africa, Asia Pacific, Middle East, Europe and South America (Nacam and Codasur) – is asked to provide two candidates to compete in the global final. This will be in the form of a 'shoot out' competition and is to be held in Europe in September or October 2010.The shoot will be four approximately10km long sections, two on gravel and two on asphalt. Four winners will be chosen from the ten competitors and get the chance to compete in 5 rounds of the 2011 Production Car or S2000 World Rally Championship (P or S WRC)

So how will the Africa region select its candidates? Each ASN in the Africa region will be invited to submit one candidate to represent their area. Nominated candidates will be asked to attend a shoot out that must take place before September 2010. The country to stage the African region shoot out has yet to be determined but it's format will be three special stages each approximately 5km long two murram and a tarmac section. Five judges (carefully selected by respected members of the sport) will determine two top qualifiers to represent the Africa region. Judging will be done on five pre-determined criteria: Speed, Driving Ability, Appearance, Public Relations and Fitness. The judging coefficients applied to these criteria will not all be the same. Speed and driving ability will carry the highest values.

Each qualifying contender will be given a return economy air tickets for driver and co-driver to the shootout in Europe and €6,000 in financial support towards either renting a rally car in Europe or transporting their own car to the final competition.

Jamie Whyte and Phillip Archenoul from Zimbabwe on the way to win the Kobil Rally of Tanzania 2010......more

Winners of the Kobil Rally of Tanzania, James Whyte and Philip Archenoul of Zimbabwe on the podium of the opening round of the 2010 African Rally Championship.

2009 FIA African Rally Champions were presented with their trophies in Monte Carlo on Friday the 11th December 2009 in the presence of HRH Prince Albert of Monaco. Pictured are the champions at the Gala with their partners and also with F1 Champions Jenson Button.

2010 FIA AFRICAN RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP CALENDAR

19-21 February 2010 - Kobil Rally of Tanzania
2-4 April 2010 KCB Safari Rally Kenya
30 April-2 May 2010 - KCB Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally
4-6 June 2010 - KCB Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally
16-18th July 2010 - Zambia International Rally
27-29 August 2010 - Toyota Zimbabwe Challenge Rally

Proposed Candidate event in 2010 - Tour Auto Madagascar