The Rwanda Automobile Club (RAC) has embarked on building a mutual relationship with South Africa Motorsport Federation to improve the sport in the country.
ARC standing:
1. Don Smith/Bob Kaugi 36 points2. Muna Singh/Jasmeen Singh 25pts3. Gary Chaynes/David Israel 25pts4. Ismail Ibrahim/Johan Bruin 15pts
The Rwanda Automobile Club (RAC) has embarked on building a mutual relationship with South Africa Motorsport Federation to improve the sport in the country.
According to Eric Nzamwita, the RAC Chief Financial Officer, who was in South Africa last weekend for the 2016 Sasol Africa Rally Championship, Rwanda needs to emulate what the best countries are doing around the region in terms of organization to improve motorsport.
"Organization is everything; first of all, we want to build a good relationship with Motorsport SA. And secondly, to learn how they do their things which will serve us when preparing for our local and continental rallies, but most especially, the Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally in August,” he told Times Sport.
Nzamwita says South Africa has forged a reputation for close, tough competition, but also acknowledges that, "Rally cars are very expensive and our drivers have to stick to what they have got.”
Nzamwita went on to explain that local drivers like the reigning national rally champion, Giancarlo Davite and his navigator Sylvia Vindevogel, have, one several occasions missed Africa Rally Championships races because it’s a costly venture.
Sasol Rally is the second round of the 2016 Africa Rally Championship on the continental calendar, and was won by Zambian Leeroy Poulter and Elvéne Coetzee, leading from start to finish in their Toyota Gazoo SA Yaris S2000.
Zambia’s Muna Singh, was eighth overall in the event, taking his tally in the ARC classification to 25 points. Singh finished 21minutes and 19 seconds behind Paulter. Singh is now tied with Ivory Coast's Gary Chaynes on 25 points.
Meanwhile, Don Smith and Bob Kaugi assumed the lead in the ARC standings with 36 points. The next round of the continental event heads to Zambia for the Zambia International Rally from May 27-29.
The Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally, the fifth round on the ARC calendar, is scheduled for August 12-14.
Next events
May, 27-29: Zambia International RallyJuly, 8-10: Rally of TanzaniaAug. 12-14: Rwanda Mountain Gorilla RallySept. 16-18: Pearl of Africa Uganda RallyNov. 11-13: Madagascar International Rally
editorial@newtimes.co.rw