By Frank Kaheesi Serugo in Johannesburg.
MOIL-sponsored crew of Yasin Nasser and Ali Katumba places Uganda at second overall position finish, as the 2021African rally championship closed curtains.
Making their debut in South Africa, the moil crew raced wise against homeboy, Guy Botteril, who saw his rally end on day one.
Boterill, their only competitor at the continental finale, painfully waved bye bye to his home event, when his left front ball joint of his Toyota Etios pulled out in stage five, and lost valuable time of 15 minutes 35.7 seconds.
The South African crew tried their luck even on day two under rally2 trying to battle fpr some maximum points but their dream was shortlived as they veered off road in the trac challenge stage two and broke down again.
Though Kenya’s Carl Tundo already sealed the African title in Rwanda a month ago after scoring 120 points, Nasser managed to displace Boterill from second place to position low by total of 96 points amassed.
“As crew, we have tested our levels of competition against Continent’s best, and am sure my team has gotten the exposure,” said Nasser after finishing then two-day event held in mountainous areas of Dullstroom.
Home boys Jonathan Simms in Toyota Tazz R4 won the regional title, followed by Natie Booysen in second,and Anton Ralph’s sealing the podium slots.
Local Speedster Theune Joubert in Toyota Yaris seemed unbeatable, as he led the rally from start to end, posting the fastest time of one hour five minutes 07.6 seconds to seal the National rally championship(NRC1) title.
Nico Jienaber navigated Gert Nienaber driving a Toyota Etios were second overall two minutes 09.1seconds adrift, and rally tech chief executive officer, Chris Coertse in Hyundai I20 R4 finished third overall with time of one hour, eight minutes 15.8 second.
However, the Uganda crews will need to wait longer for their ARC 2 ( group N category) title crowing by the Confederation of African Countries in Motorsport(CACMS), as the annual glamorous prize giving in Monaco, Pari was attended scientifically with a few invites.
ARC final standing:
1.Carl Tundo (KEN) 120
2.Yasin Nasser(UG) 96
3.Guy Botteril (SA) 73
