Drivers livid with rally route

DAY two of the KCB Mountain Gorilla Rally left many drivers asking questions. The drivers could not hold back their frustration about the length of the day’s first competitive section (Nzove – Kirenge) which covered 62.9km. “It is the first time I have done more than 50km in a competitive section,” a discontented Mohamed Essa said. “It was always going to be hard for me because I didn’t even get enough time to go reccing,” the Zambian Pirelli-WRC Star driver added. Tanzania’s Hans Navraj, one of seven drivers in the Pirelli-WRC circuit was also quick to criticise the route saying, “The first competitive section was very long. It was also very humid out there which made conditions very hard for us (drivers).” Six drivers dropped out yesterday.Olivier Costa, one of Rwanda’s top drivers was the first to hit the exit when he broke his Subaru’s suspensions after skidding off the gravel road. He was followed by the Pirelli-Star trio of Raaji Bharij (Subaru N10), Mathieu Adrianjafy of Madagascar (Subaru WRX) and Chase Atwell although the latter managed to get his Subaru N12 back on the road for the day’s final two competitive sections. Rwanda’s 2004 rally champion Tony Saegerman was the last casualty of the day after breaking his hind suspension. It was a huge blow for the local ace, who was driving a Subaru GT. However, drivers are expected to have more favourable conditions when they head east today (final day).The day’s opening competitive section is a 21.10km stretch from Rukara to Kawangire. Drivers will then pace through four competitive sections before winding up with a 51.20km stage from Ndatemwa to Cyamutara. On top of counting as the final round on the Pirelli-WRC circuit and the second round on the national rally championship, the race also counts as the final tier on the inaugural KCB East African Rally Challenge. 2009 KCB Mt. Gorilla Rally Day 2 results P. Horsey/M. Matovu (Mitsubishi Evo 9) 02:25:51N. Hans/ D. Sihoka (Mitsubishi Evo 9) 02:27:57D. Giancarlo/ S. Vindevogel (Subaru N11) 02:29:01C. Fitidis/ G. Dekelver (Subaru N12) 02:30:04R. Cantanhede/B. Cantanhede (Subaru N8) 02:30:42A. Horsey/ O. Taylor (Mitsubishi Evo 8) 02:31:45V. Bukera/K. Nital (Subaru N10) 02:34:19A. Dethise/ F. Musafili (Subaru N11) 02:41:55E. Mitraros/ P. Paganin (Subaru N10) 02:45:16 Dropped out O. Costa/ J.F Ruhashyankiko (Subaru N11) 02:23R. Bharij/K. Henri (Subaru N10) 02:24M. Essa/A. Naik (Subaru N11) 02:25C. Attwell/ G. Stead (Subaru N12) 02:29M. Adrianjafy/ T. Rahamefy (Subaru WRX) 02:29T. Saegerman/ V. Robert (Subaru GT) 02:30 Ends