ARC Class Results

1. Mohammed Essa (Zambia) 3:03:00

2. Jaspreet Singh Chatthe (Kenya) 3:05:38

3. Gary Chaynes 3:07:47 (Ivory Coast) 3:07:47

4. Giancarlo Davite (Rwanda) 3:21:59

ARC Drivers standings after 3 Rounds:

1. Gary Chaynes (Ivory Coast) 58 points

2. Mohammed Essa (Zambia) 50 points

3. Jaspreet Singh Chatthe (Kenya) 33 points

4. Giancarlo Davite (Rwanda) 27 points

5. Morifere Soumuro (Ivory Coast) 18 points

6. Kenneth Mukosa (Zambia) 12 points

REIGNING CHAMPION Giancarlo Davite bounced back into contention for the 2014 Africa Rally Championship title after bagging crucial points in the Airtel Money Rally Zambia held over the weekend in Lusaka.

The 2013 Mt. Gorilla rally champion had 15 points going into the third round of the continental championship. He needed to post brilliant performances to stay on course for the title.

He went ahead to finish third in the Super Special stage (1.52km x2) at Lusaka Motor Club on Friday, coming eight seconds behind Zambian  Mohammed Essa and FIA African Rally Championship (ARC) leader Gary Chaynes of Ivory Coast.

On Saturday, Essa, who started the day two minutes 39 seconds down in second position, took the laurels in the very opening stage of the day, SS12, when overnight leader Giancarlo Davite of Rwanda dropped out after his Subaru Impreza N11 developed a mechanical problem.

Davite, in a Mistubishi Evo 10, shrugged off an array of problems that included two tyre punctures in the last three stages to finish fifth overall and fourth in the ARC race, clocking 3:21:59.

He picked 12 points to acquire a total 27 points, 31 points behind the Ivorian leader Chaynes. Essa beat second placed Kenyan Jaspreet Chatthe by two minutes and 38 seconds after clocking 3 hours and 3 seconds in the 472 km race.

It was Essa’s second consecutive victory this season after winning the Sasol Rally of South Africa last month.

The Italian-born Davite said he would be heading for the Tanzania Rally a charged up driver and was optimistic of increasing his points tally in the African championship.

A win for Davite in the Rally of Tanzania in June and Rwanda Mountain Gorilla rally in July, would see him ascend to top of the standings with 77 points.

The next event on the ARC calendar will be the Rally of Tanzania scheduled between June 13th and June 15th this year.

Out of the 14 drivers who started only seven finished the rally as Davite, who is contesting in full African championship circuit this year, now shifts his attention to the continent’s fourth round, Rally of Tanzania set for Dar es Salaam in three weeks time.

Defending champion, Jassy Singh’s hopes of retaining the championship went up in flames when his Subaru Impreza N10 burnt out.

Jassy, whose car won him the continental crown last year, initially gave him problems during the Special Spectator Stage after developing ball-joint problems on Friday forcing him to retire early.

The fault was rectified and the 20-year-old was back in the race on Saturday but as Jassy and his navigator Sajid Khan were negotiating with stage three, the car overturned and it started leaking before it caught fire.

Jassy and Khan luckily escaped the inferno without a scratch but with heavily battered emotions of seeing the memorable car go up in flames.

All efforts to put out the flames failed as Jassy and other sympathisers watched helplessly as the car reduced to a burnt black shell.

A devastated Jassy was at a loss to explain the incident saying his chances of retaining the title were over and called on supporters and welwishers to assist him get a new car to continue with his title pursuit.