Downpour Forces AAT to Defer Race

The Citizen (Dar es Salaam)

Miguel Suleyman

30 April 2011

Organisers of the third round of the National Rally Championship, AAT, have called off the race owing to the relentless downpour.The 350km race, which was to take place this weekend at Bagamoyo, will now rev up next Saturday pending weather changes.

The event’s chief clerk of the course, Satinder Birdi, told The Citizen yesterday that the downpour has adversely affected roads designed for the race.

“Everything was in top gear, but for reasons beyond our control, we have no option but to push it back…the roads are almost impassable,” Birdi said.He added: “We regret to inform all the drivers that the event has been postponed, we hope that by next week, the weather will have changed in our favour.”

The official sympathised with the drivers that the deferment would deny them time to perfect their skills for the Tanga Rally planned for the last week of May. Dar es Salaam’s Mohamed Digala, one of the drivers expected to race in the event said the inclement weather would affect his bid to claim the pole position in the championship.

Digala, who has thus far garnered 50 points, plans to add 80 points, which would be enough to give him the lead.

Meanwhile, Tanga Motor Sports Club chairman Hussein Moor said yesterday that preparations for the Tanga Rally were on course.

Moor said there were 10 Tanga-based drivers who had already confirmed participation as of yesterday and hoped over 15 other regions will follow suit.He named Arusha, Kilimanjaro, Dar es Salaam, Mombasa and Morogoro as the places where the other drivers will come from.

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