Giancarlo’s ARC title hopes fade

HOPES of Davite Giancarlo winning the 2014 Africa Rally Championship title suffered a blow after his Mitsubishi Evo 10 developed mechanical problems which saw him bow out of the Oryx Energies Rally of Tanzania over the weekend. Jaspreet Chatthe became the first Kenyan driver to win an event in Tanzania since 2002, after clinching victory in the fourth round of the 2014 African Rally Championship in Dar-es-salaam. Twelve out of the original 19 starters managed to finish the rally. Davite needed to finish on the podium to ensure his stay in the race for the African crown which has remained elusive to the Rwandan driver despite huge investments. Davite alongside his navigator Sylvia Vindevogel had a good start on Friday and Saturday but things turned ugly on Sunday when his car developed mechanical hitches. His car was apparently pushed into the final parc ferme and later disqualified by the Stewards. He was disqualified after Stewards spotted his car receiving outside assistance yards away from the finish at Tazara Station. Navigated by compatriot Vindevogel, the only female co-driver in the series, the crew retains fourth place in the ARC with 27 points. Favourite winner Gary Chanyes from Ivory Coast was also disqualified by the Stewards at the finish over getting outside assistance leaving the championship wide open at the half way stage. Essa Mohamed of Zambia, who was aiming for his third consecutive victory in his attempt to close the gap at the top of the table, got a shock after his Subaru Impreza stopped with a damaged rear arm at the end of the first stage of Day Two. Kenya’s Chatthe and Chaynes from Ivory Coast are joint leaders tied on 58 points whilst Zambia’s Essa now sits third with 50 points.

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Giancarlo’s ARC title hopes fade