Mohammed Essa lures Ugandan co-driver Moses Matovu for Zambia International Rally
 
By Ignatius Mazeko
 
ZAMBIAN champion Mohammed Essa has lured Ugandan co-driver Moses Matovu of Uganda to call the notes for him during the FIA African Rally Championship (ARC) event, the 476-km Zambia International Rally that revs off on July 16 at InterContinental Hotel in Lusaka.
 
The 21-year-old Essa, who will be at the wheels of a Team Madison Racing Subaru Impreza N11, has romped in Matovu as cover for Zimbabwean Greg Stead currently on a brief lay off from the sport owing to school commitments.
 
The Dar-es-Salaam-based Matovu will also guide in the Toyota Zimbabwe Challenge, the sixth and final round of this season’s FIA African circuit.
 
Matovu promises to help Essa captured his maiden Zambia International Rally crown after missing out on the laurels last year when he was pipped by 2004 and 2005 African champion and Madison teammate Muna Singh on the last day of the competition. 
 
Matovu, who navigated compatriot Emmanuel Katto in last year’s Zambia International Rally, recently stepped down from an FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) seat with 2009 African Pirelli Star Driver (PSD) winner Kenyan Peter Horsey due to work commitments.
 
“It’s been a long time since WRC Rally Portugal, my last event, but I’ve always enjoyed Zambia and it’ll be good to challenge for a good result. Mohammed is a proven package and so it should be a good weekend,” he said.
 
Meanwhile, Essa says he has acquired a turbo to replace the one that packed up during the PGA Rally held in Norton, Zimbabwe late last month.
 
Essa says he was looking forward to the championship and is optimistic that Zambian crews would occupy podium slot at the ceremonial finish set for InterContinental Hotel on July 18.
 
The 2010 Zambia International Rally is the fifth round of the FIA African Rally Championship and consists of three days of high octane rallying action around Lusaka.
 
The rally would be flagged off on July 16 at InterContinental Hotel at 14:00 hours and the ceremonial start will be followed by a twice-run Super Special Stage at the Lusaka Motor Club (LMC) in the Showgrounds.
 
On July 17-18, the rally will be centred and run in Chisamba on Old, Kamilonga, Morning Side, Chaloshi and Westgate farms where 11 stages will be staged. - ZMSA