James Whyte Sweeps everything as KCB POAUR ends

Over the weekend, it has been a story of resilience, drama, climax and
anticlimax as the 2010 KCB Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally (POAUR) finally
came to a close with the Prize giving Ceremony at Nakumat Oasis Mall Yard,
KCB branch. Not even the weather stopped that to happen in style, even as
it threatened to rain all the while.

One man stood out in the melodrama, and his story is something from the
movies. James Whyte took Uganda by storm, winning the rally and walking
away with a huge fan base. The Muzungu from Zimbabwe now known as
"billionaire" by the fans he has so much worn over by his speeds and
consistence with style, has swept every KCB trophy available in 1st
overall Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally, Best foreign crew and of course
Best African Rally Champion (ARC) driver and Best car group N. The rest
had to share the remainder but true to the sponsors promise, everyone had
something to take home.

Jamie navigated by Phil Archenoul in a powerful Subaru Impreza N10 meant
nothing but business when they embarked on this event to collect points
for the ARC ranking. All this he managed in a trouble free rally to beat
over 21 top drivers from Uganda, Rwanda, Zimbambwe and Kenya.

"We had a brilliant and 100% trouble free rally. My focus now is on the
next rally in Rwanda where I look forward to viewing the picturesque
sceneries and the roads," said Whyte who finished third in the recent 2010
KCB Safari Rally in Kenya.

Rwandan Giancarlo Davite swept through the CS10 to win the Riyaz floating
trophy dedicated to Riyaz Kurji (R.I.P) while tears were shed for Ponsiano
Lwakataka, who had recovered from Saturday's mishaps to actually swing the
top spot only to fail to reach service in the transport section to finish
at Hotel African. His car simply failed after doing everything to post
best time, and actually at one time being head to head with Whyte in 1st
position. Hard luck, Mr. Speed Merchant, that is the fan about rallying
and any sport anyway.

However, like they say in Uganda, in a cows tears lies the dog's
happiness. Ronald Ssebuguzi in a new Mitsubishi Evo 9 seized this moment
to clinch the 2nd Position, together with trophies to best Federation of
Motor Sports clubs of Uganda (FMU) National Rally Championship winner, 2nd
Overall and best local crew. Another crew from Rwanda of Cristakis Fitidis
with G. Dekelver came in 3rd over all and 2nd ARC driver in a rally
dominated by Subarus.

Safety was beefed all day and no major incidents were realized on Sunday
unlike Saturday where 2 fans lost their lives to speeding cars of Ponsiano
Lwakataka and twenty-old Shafiq Ssemujju. The ASN, cautioned fans to be
more careful in subsequent events and an intensive awareness campaign to
help deter such accident is going to be embarked upon.

As the day closed and indeed the Pearl Rally drivers could only be
thankful as many of them wrecked their machines, others showed brevity and
endurance with only 11 cars finishing out of 21 participants. Charles
Muhangi, 1999 ARC champion proved to the youngsters and veterans alike
that there is only one black man that can take on the hard terrain of
Africa. His heroics are something from the gods and we can only speculate
what would have happened had he started the rally, while Edson Mungyereza
has done it all to finish this rally.

Ben Muchemi has also been a darling of the fans possibly due to his very
likeable demeanor and his smile lighted the prize giving ceremony.
However, Ben aka 'Baba Ciru' navigated by George Mwangi were the only
Kenyan crew in the rally and luck was not with them after they encountered
a mechanical problem from the start of the final leg forcing him to slow
and settle for position seven.

" Today was a bad day for me since this morning before starting the first
section, the car developed mechanical problems. We actually had no boost
on the engine and at one point I was forced to stop where we lost 4
minutes," Said a frustrated and tired Ben Muchemi. He also suffered a
burst water pipe in the transport section to finish.

Action now shifts to Kisumu for the KCB Visa Card rally on May 15th 2010.

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