HARARE - Zimbabwes rising Motor rally star Conrad Rautenbach and African Champion Jamie Whyte celebrated their second continental victory at the Sasol Rally in South Africa last weekend to see a boost to their 2011 campaign in the second leg of the FIA African Rally Championship.
The Sasol Rally was the second leg of both the ARC and the South African Rally Championship. Rautenbach and his French navigator Nicholas Klinger, were also winners of last months Total Tour Natal Rally.
They finished third behind Leeroy Poulter and Evlene Coetzee in their Toyota Auris S200 and Johnny Gemmel and Drew Sturock. Their time of 2.15 was the best among the ARC registered drivers, which saw them emerging winners of the continental championship though third in the South African Rally Championship.
The young driver won the first leg of the continental championship, the local Toyota Zimbabwe Challenge rally held in Harare, last month.
Rautenbach told journalists after the rally in South Africa, Its been a difficult rally but we battled our way back into contention. Obviously being first on the road was a bit difficult for us as it meant that we had to be too cautious. However on the final day (on Saturday) we regained some ground.
Third place was a good result for us as it means we are still in contention in both Africa (ARC) and the South Africa championship and the aim is definitely to go all the way.
Zimbabwes defending ARC champion Jamie Whyte and his co-driver Phil Archenoul finished third in the ARC and 14th overall behind Rautenbach and South African Schalk Burger and co-driver Armand Du Toit.
Post published in: Zimbabwe Sports News