Manvir Baryan wins York Rally

1. Manvir Baryan (KEY) 2. Guy Botteril (SA) 3. Matthew Vacy (SA) 4. Leroy Gomes (ZAM) 5. AC Potgieter (SA) Defending Africa Rally champion Manvir Baryan, navigated by Drew Sturrock, won the York Rally in South Africa on Saturday, having led the field since Day I. Twenty-six crews were flagged off for the 3rd round of the Africa Rally Championship series to race through 14 stages covering a distance of 220.59 kilometres, but only 17 finished the race. The Multiple Racing Crew in a Skoda Fabia R5 finished top after clocking quickest time of 2:47:43.9. Making their debut in South Africa, the crew took the lead on day one with a time of 1hr, 24 minutes and 20 seconds after setting the fastest time in four of Friday’s seven special stages, covering a distance of 105.90km. Manvir again closed in on day two clocking the fastest time to cover a distance of 114.60 km. South Africa’s Guy Botteril, navigated by Simon Vacy-Lyle in a Toyota Etios R2, came second 3 minutes and 14 seconds behind the leader. Mathew Vacy-Lyle, of South Africa, finished third with +8:32:7 in Toyota Etios R2. Leroy Gomes of Zambia, in a Mitbushishi Evo 9, finished a massive ten minutes and one second behind in fourth position, while AC Potgieter (SA) in a VW Polo R2 came fifth ahead of another S. African JJ Potgieter in a Ford Fiesat R2. Zambia’s Kleevan Gomes was seventh while Kenya’s John Rose in Datsun 2040 Z finished in a lowly 11th position. Nine crews became causalities of the rally including Tanzania’s Ismail Ismail shermohamed - Pierre Jordan in a Toyota Yaris S2000. Ivorian Gary Chaynes and Kenya’s Carlo Tundo, who won in Cote d’Ivoire and Kenya, skipped the rally, which means Manvir’s victory in South Africa puts all three on 25 points on the ARC standings. Rwanda’s Jean Claude Gakwaya and his pace reader Jean Claude Mugabo missed the euphoria. The next ARC will head to Zambia for the 4th round series from June 22-24, while Rwandas Mountain Gorilla Rally, due September, will be the last event on this year’s African rally calendar. Last year it was won by Manvir. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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Manvir Baryan wins York Rally