Seven Foreign Drivers Jet in

19 May 2011

Seven foreign drivers have arrived in Zambia for the 2011 African Rally Championship (ARC) third round race that will be revving off from the Inter-Continental Hotel in Lusaka tomorrow.

And Zambia Motor Sport Association (ZMSA) says it has exceeded its projected K500 million budget by K20 million following overwhelming response from the sponsors

The foreign based drivers, who yesterday acquainted themselves with the route ahead of the three day-595.21 km- long Zambia rally, to try and dethrone the defending champion, Muna Singh include African champion, Jamie Whyte – in a Subaru Impreza WRX, Conrad Rautenbach, driving G-Fuel Ford Fiesta S2000.

Others are Rwandese Giancarlo Davite – in a Subaru Impreza WRX, enterprising Zimbabwean female Lorraine Marufu – in a Toyota Corolla RSi navigated by Tinky Naidu, Craig Green who will be navigated by Mike Exton.

Richard Robbinson with South Africa’s Schalke Burger junior, aboard a Power Line Africa Mitsubishi Evo X, were expected to arrive last night.

Local drivers are Muna, his son Jassy – turning out in a VW Golf 2, Mohammed Essa in his faithful Madison Subaru WRX, Paul Monge, Imran Ticklay, Ashish Patel, Ken Mukosa (all Subaru WRXs), Azim Ticklay, Dani Beaini (both in Toyota Landcruisers) and Lastone Chulu in a Corolla RSi.

ZMSA vice-president, Sam Ching’ambu expressed happiness with the entries, 10 of which were local, saying this year’s entry had beaten the 2010 participation list that only saw about three foreign drivers take part.

And on the budget, Ching’ambo said the association had collected K20 million more than it had budgeted and thanked all the companies that came on board in ensuring the success of the championship.

Ching’ambu told a media briefing at Hotel Inter-Continental in Lusaka yesterday that the coming on board of Engen, Grandad, Ghirardi Milling, Alios Financing Zambia, Apple Savanna and Agent Classifieds helped the association exceed its budget.

Alios Zambia donated K25 million to Team Puncho from which K10 million would go to ZMSA towards the organisation of the rally. Ghirardi Milling would take care of feeding the marshals, security and other officials.

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