Fitidis roars in Pearl rally

Provisional results J. Whyte/P. Archenoul 2.03.44R. Ssebuguzi/C. Buzabo 2.06.32C. Fitidis/G. Dekelver 2.24.34N. Mutebi/B. Mbogo 2.28.35C. Muhangi/F. Nekusa 2.28.54 2010 is turning out to be a memorable year for Rwanda’s little known rally driver Christakis Fitidis. The speedster posted his second podium finish in three African Rally Championship (ARC) events after finishing third in the KCB Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally which climaxed on Sunday. Fitidis, who was navigated by Guy Dekelver in a Subaru N12 series, returned an overall time of 2 hours, 24 minutes and 34 seconds, 20 minutes and 50 seconds adrift of overall winner and African champion Jamie Whyte of Zimbabwe. Home boy Ronald Ssebuguzi (Mitsubishi Evo.9) finished second after clocking two hours, six minutes and 32 seconds. For the second time in three years, the podium was drenched in Zimbabwe colours as Whyte (Subaru N10) swept every KCB trophy available from the best foreign Crew, best ARC driver and best Car Group N. Whyte who also won in Tanzania and Kenya now has to come to Rwanda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Ugandan Jas Mangat (Subaru N12) and Giancarlo Davite, the other two drivers eligible for ARC points left the rally impulsively with ball-joint and suspension problems respectively on Saturday. “On Saturday, we had more difficulties and we had to abandon after the car went off track,” Davite said on his website. Davite however settled for a consolation ‘Riyaz floating trophy’ dedicated to Riyaz Kurji (R.I.P) after sweeping through competitive section 10. While counting as a second tier on the KCB East Africa Rally Challenge, the three-day race also counted as round three on the Africa Rally Championship. Eleven drivers completed the 14th edition of Uganda’s premier rally with locals boasting 10 victories Ends

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Fitidis roars in Pearl rally