Rautenbach Wins Zambia International Rally
 
By Ignatius Mazeko
 
ZIMBABWEAN Conrad Rautenbach has scooped the Zambia International Rally, which features the third round of the FIA African Rally Championship (ARC), with a time of three minutes 10 seconds from countryman Jamie Whyte after timing 2:34:14 in a G-Fuel Ford Fiesta S2000.
 
Rautenbach dominated this 585.49km rally comprehensively from start to finishing winning 15 of the 17 stages that made up the rally that had eight finishers from 17 starters and ended today in Lusaka with a ramp finish at InterContinental Hotel.
 
The 26-year-old Zimbabwe, who was watched on by his father, retired rally driver Billy, has now won three successive ARC rallies after laurels from the Toyota Zimbabwe Challenge and Sasol Rally South Africa to increase his points tally to 75.
 
African champion Whyte, at the wheels of a Jialing Subaru Impreza N110, held on to second position and maintained an identical position in the ARC after finishing seven minutes 17 seconds quicker than Zambian Mohammed Essa, who himself scored his maiden points of the African race.
 
The 21-year-old Essa, piloting a Madison Subaru N11, said his target was second position but considering the myriad of mechanical problems he suffered yesterday, he was happy with a podium finish.
 
Geoffrey Chulu retired his Toyota Corolla RSi on the 15.56km Bull stage 12 and was followed by Ken Mukosa who became the ninth and final casualty of the rally when his drive shaft packed up on the ragged 12.66km 7 Kings stage 14.
 
Rautenbach said he was hoping to score more points from next month’s KCB Safari Rally Kenya that features the fourth round of the ARC while Whyte said it would be tall order dislodge the former Citroen Total Junior Team driver from the summit of the ARC.
 
Whyte, however, said he would make full use of Rautenbach’s absence from the KCB Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally to narrow the gap in his quest for a third straight African title.
 
Rautenbach has already ruled himself out of the Uganda rally because it is clashing dates with the Volkswagen Rally, the fourth round of the South African Rally Championship (SARC), which will also be held on the weekend of July 15-16 in Port Elizabeth.
 
Results SS17 (end of rally)
 
1. Rautenbach 2:34:14
2. Whyte 2:37:24
3. Essa 2:44:41
4. Monge 2:48:46
5. Beaini 3:14:10
6. Salim 3:15:27
7. Azim 3:29:37
8. Marufu 3:54:05