ARC standings
1. James Whyte
(Zimbabwe) 30 points
2. Muna Singh (Zambia)
23 points
3. Mohammed Essa
(Zambia) 15.5 points
4. Emmanuel Katto (Uganda) 15 points
5. Olivier Costa (Rwanda) 9.5 points

OLIVIER Costa’s chances of a podium finish at this year’s FIA African Rally Championship were let down when he dropped out of the Zambia International Rally last Saturday.

Having posted a spectacular drive on Day one (Friday) where he finished third behind home favourites Mohammed Essa and Muna Singh, the Rwandan driver navigated by Sylvain Vindevogel in a Subaru N11 series retired in the penultimate competitive section of Day two after failing to resuscitate a broken gearbox selector.

Costa was fourth at the time and raring to close in on Zambia’s Paul Mong who was a few seconds clear in third place. Other casualties on the day included Ken Mukosa (Subaru N8), Uganda’s Emmanuel Katto (Emka Subaru N14) and Ashish Patel/ Mark Terken (Subaru N6).

Singh, chasing a third African crown after back to back titles in 2004 and 2005 went on to win the rally after beating the 20-year-old Essa by 15 seconds.

Zimbabwe’s Jamie Whyte, who twice broke his rear shocks in the three-day event, was happy with a third-spot finish because it garnered him 30 points while also taking him closer to a maiden ARC title.

"Muna has to win in Zimbabwe while I only have to finish in the top five to be champion,” the 49-year-old Zimbabwean told the Zambia Motorsports Association website (www.motorsport.co.zm).

The fifth and final round of this year’s ARC is set for September in Zimbabwe.

Ends