Rwanda mountain gorilla rally bulletin by anwar sidi

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Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally 2013 Bulletin by Anwar Sidi

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Africa’s best converge in Rwanda for penultimate Mountain Gorilla

RWANDAMOTOR LTD

Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally 2013

SEPTEMBER 2013

Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally 2013 Bulletin by Anwar Sidi

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Rwanda Past Winners Past Winners Year Drivers 1983 Alain Ambrosino / Daniel Le Saux 1984 Azar Anwar / Farakh Yusuf 1985 Harjit Singh Mangat / Paulo Paganin 1986 Jean Louis La Loux / Luc Verhulst 1987 Manjit Sandhu / Jaswinder Sandhu 1988 Sarbi Rai / Supi Soin 1989 Satwant Singh / Luc Verhulst 1990 – 1996 No rally held 1997 Satwant Singh / Surinder Thatthi 1998 No rally held 1999 No rally held 2000 Charles Muhangi / David Mayanja 2001 Schalk Burger / Piet Swanepoel 2002 Johnny Gemmel / Robert Paisley 2003 Fernando Rueda / Martin Botha 2004 Rudy Cantanhede / David Israel 2005 Riyaz Kurji / Sayed Kadri 2006 Riyaz Kurji / Sayed Kadri 2007 Conrad Rautenbach/Peter Marsh 2008 Rudy Cantanhede / David Israel 2009 Giancarlo Davite / Sylvia Vindevogel 2010 Rudy Cantanhede / David Israel 2011 Jean yves 2012 Elefter Mitralos /Paganin Paolo

Photography by: Anwar Sidi

Car Renault Alpine Datsun 160J Peugeot 504 Mazda 323 VW Golf Opel Manta 400 VW Golf Subaru Impreza

Subaru Impreza Subaru Impreza Subaru Impreza Mitsubishi Lan.Evo6 Mitsubishi Lan.Evo3 Subaru Impreza Subaru Impreza Subaru Impreza Subaru Impreza N11 Subaru Impreza N11 Subaru Impreza N8 Subaru Impreza

2008 winner Giancarlo Davite

Rudy Cantanhede won in 2008

Late Riaz Kurji won in 2005 & 2006

Supi Soin & Sarbi Rai won in 1988

Riaz Kurji-Subaru

Photography by: Anwar Sidi

Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally 2013

Africa’s best converge in Rwanda for penultimate Mountain Gorilla

Jas Mangat and Gihan De Silve

I

t’s all systems go as Ugandan champion Jas Mangat, Jassy Singh of Zambia and African Champion Esssa Mohammed face off in the seventh and penultimate round of the FIA African Rally Championship 2013.

The event follows a CACMS/FIA Institute Africa Regional meeting held in Gaborone, Botswana on 29/30th August 2013. Also present during the CACMS event were the FIA President Jean Todt, FIA Institute President Gerard Saillant, FIA Vice-Presidents Mohammed Ben Sulayem (Middle East) and Vice Presiddent Surinder Thatthi (Africa) and WRC Rally Manager Michele Mouton.

Todt and legendary Mouton presented the best ARC Rally Award 2012 to Mr. Ralph Stead, President of the Zimbabwe Motor STANDINGS AFTER ROUND 6 - V POWER PEARL OF AFRICA UGANDA RALLY DRIVERS 1. Jas MANGAT (UGA) 83 2. Jassy Singh (ZMB) 66 3. Mohamed ESSA (ZMB) 50 4. Giancarlo DAVITE (RWA) 33 5. Eric PAGES (CIV) 25 6. Jan HABIG (RSA) 25 NAVIGATORS 1.Gihan DE SILVA (UGA) 83 2.David SIHOKA (ZMB) 73 3.Greg STEAD(ZIM) 50 4.Sylvia VINDEVOGEL (RW) 36 5.Chantal PAGES (CIV) 25

Sport Federation for the highest score in the 2012 ARC rallies for the Zimbabwe Challenge Rally.

All in all, there is no gainsaying that the 2013 ARC series has been action-packed and breathtaking; having already traversed Ivory Coast, South Africa, Zambia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and now Rwanda before culminating in the island republic of Madagascar.

Rwanda is indeed a significant occasion as this may be the setting with which continental title could be sealed-so thrills and spills are guaranteed. If Mangat wins it and Jassy of Rwanda retires, then the Ugandan will have sealed what has eluded him for years.

Mangat was the victor in his home rally in Kampala besides the peerless drive he displayed prior to winning the Puma Energy Rally of Tanzania.

This year’s series is without a doubt one of the closest fought battles in recent times with Subaru driver Essa having to contend with mechanical gremlins in Kampala and Tanzania where he rolled his Subaru contraption.

Essa won the ARC class in Safari in Nairobi subsequent to hurried repairs to superficial damages suffered during the Tanzania roll.

Jassy, son of former two times ARC Champion Muna Singh, is lying second thus far but has been left to rue his retirement in Safari.

All hasn’t been well with Davite and his female navigator Sylvia Vindevogel following multiple retirements in Ivory Coast, Kenya and Uganda-but the Kigali based businessman is at pains to make amends before the home crowd.

Christian Gakwaya

Rwanda Automobile Club (RAC) is in full gear preparing on all fronts to ensure that the 2013 Mt. Gorilla Rally scheduled for this weekend is successful after they equipped local officials with Motorsport safety measures.

The training was held last week under the FIA Institute funded programmes worldwide and according to RAC chairman Christian Gakwaya, more than 50 marshalls benefited. As previous years, the headquarter of the rally is situated in the lively and historic town of Kigali. Umubano Hotel will be hosting the event HQ and media center. Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally 2013 will be run in accordance with the International Sporting Code (and its Appendices), the General Prescriptions applicable to all FIA Rally Championships, FIA Africa Rally Championship regulations, the RAC Sporting Code that complies with FIA Regulations and the Supplementary Regulations.

SEPTEMBER 2013

Jassy Singh during the Safari Rally

Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally 2013 Bulletin by Anwar Sidi

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Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally 2013

Photography by: Anwar Sidi

Cristakis Fitidis

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Event Overview

T

he 2013 edition of the Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally will be competed over three days. The rally will cover the picturesque scenery of Rwanda and will take competitors and fans to the northern parts of the country.

The total distance of the rally will be 600 kms, of which approximately 300 Kms will be competitive. Headquarter of the rally is situated in the lively and historic town of Kigali and UMUBANO hotel will be hosting the event HQ, and media center.

The official start of the rally will take place at the Gikondo Expo Ground on Friday 20th September; the whole rally runs in surroundings of Kigali town Leg 1 will have 8 special stages (5 different) Leg 2 will have 4 special stages (2 different, will be driven 2 times) The Podium ceremony will be held on Sunday 22nd September afternoon at the Gikondo Expo Ground.

There are a total of 12 Competitive Sections which will be re-run over the course of the rally, the longest of which will be 35 Kms and the shortest 2,4 Kms. The competitive sections will be run in groups of 2 or 3.

The competitive sections will be on gravel roads that are open to the

public. However, information will be relayed to the road users to ensure that traffic is kept to a minimum on the days of the event and roads will be closed one hour and 30 min before the first car.

Leg 1A Friday September 20th, 2013 After a ceremonial start, the cars will proceed to a Spectator Stage at the Gahanga quarry Grounds near Kigali. The stage which is approximately 2.5 Km in length will be competed over two runs, in reverse seeding order. The circuit is located on the Bugesera road. This circuit is famous for its attraction of a high number of spectators, who have numbered ever 50,000 at one time.

Leg 1B Saturday September 21st, 2013 The cars, after an overnight rest at the PSF Ground, will head to the rural area around Kigali the Rwanda capital, towards now known competitive sections situated in approximately of the Kigali town Leg 2 Sunday September 22nd, 2013 The cars, after another overnight rest at the PSF Ground, will race around the city center through the famous Nyacyonga sections.

Past Winners Of The Event 2002

Gemmel - Paisley Subaru Impreza

2003

Rueda- Botha Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6

2004

Rudy Canthanede – David Israel Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 3

2005

Late Riyaz Kurji - Kadri Subaru Impreza N10

2006

Late Riyaz Kurji - Kadri Subaru Impreza N8

2007

Conrad Rautenbach - Peter Marsh (ZW) Subaru Impreza N10

2008

Rudy Cantanhede – David Israel Subaru Impreza N11

2009

Giancarlo Davite – Sylvia vindevogel Subaru Impreza N11

2010

Rudy Canthanede – David Israel Subaru Impreza N8

2011

Jean yves Subaru Impreza N11

2012

Elefter Mitralos – Paganin Paolo Subaru Imprezan N11

There are a total of 12 Competitive Sections which will be re-run over the course of the rally, the longest of which will be 35 Kms and the shortest 2,4 Kms. The competitive sections will be run in groups of 2 or 3.

Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally 2013

Photography by: Anwar Sidi

Mitraros rules as Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally organisers impress 5

Elefter Mitraros, 2012 Rwanda Rally winner

Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally 2013 Bulletin by Anwar Sidi

ARC championship in Rally Tanzania, only 17 cars entered the Kigali based tour.

Spectator fervour was incredible.

The super special alone attracted some 6000 spectators. There was no littering reported and most importantly no alcohol consumption at the super special witnessed-kudos to spectators for setting a good precedent.

Action-wise, the rally was full of drama. Giancarlo Davite and Sylvia Vindevogel crashed out with a sheared ball joint while leading on SS2.

Cristakis Fitidis wasn’t lucky either as he rolled his Subaru in one of the tricky sections.

Elefter Mitraros and his partner Paolo Paganin in a Subaru Impreza was the winner with a cumulative time of 3.55.14hours followed by Olivier Costa and Didier. Duguese in a similar make on 4.08.80 hours

Giancarlo Davite & Sylvia Vindevogel

J.Consta and George Semakula

SEPTEMBER 2013

K

CB Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally 2012 lived up to its billing as one of the best run events in the FIA African Rally Championship series calendar-thanks to the dedicated Team of young organisers comprising Christian Gakwaya and Salim Abdulgani Fabrice.

As a matter of fact, the team wasn’t only spot-on in executing it’s duties, but surpassed the expectations of many what with the quality they displayed in the weekend setting.

This particular edition will perhaps go down in the folklore as one of the most successful events. It treated spectators to some exhilarating displays.

It was encouraging to see picturesque “fast and furious” stages running up and down the mountains.

With Zambian Mohamed Essa and his Zim partner Greg Stead sealing the 2012

Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally 2013

SEPTEMBER 2013

GIANCARLO DAVITE

GIANCARLO DAVITE AND HIS FEMALE NAVIGATOR SYLVIA VINDEVOGEL HAVE ALWAYS HAD A BURNING AMBITION TO LAY THEIR HANDS ON THE COVETED FIA AFRICAN RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP DIADEM. THIS IS ONE PAINSTAKING MISSION THEY HAVE UNSUCCESSFULLY ENDEAVORED TO CARRY OUT WITH CONSIDERABLE PASSION AND SACRIFICE; INCLUDING VALUABLE TIME LOST AT WORK JUST TO SUSTAIN CHALLENGES THAT ENTAIL THEIR FIRST LOVE SPORT.

D

avite was born on the 28th of November, 1963. He started rallying in 2001. Before then, he did slaloms and hill-climb races but car racing was deeply-rooted in him for as long as he can remember.

“Since I was a child, racing was my big passion. I was one of the lucky boys who had the opportunity to receive a copy of the Autosprint which is an auto racing magazine from Italy

and since I was 12, I was on all rally routes in the whole of Rwanda with my small instamatic camera to take pictures!”

“Legendary Italian rally drivers like Sandro Munari and Miki Biasion helped to up my passion!” said Giancarlo who lives and works in Rwanda. Gincarlo is an owner and General Manager of a pharmaceutical Company in Kigali, Rwanda. He admits candidly that it’s not easy to juggle between work and rallying especially

GIANCARLO’S PAST ACHIEVEMENTS Rwanda National Rally Champion in 2008, 2009 and 2011 Twice runner up of the FIA ARC series in 2010 and 2012 4 times Rwanda Rally Champion in 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2012 Twice winner of the KCB East African Rally Challenge in 2009 and 2012 Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally in 2010 and 2011: 2nd overall Safari Rally 2004: 7th overall in a Golf Safari Kenya 2010: 2nd overall in ARC, driving a Subaru Kobil Tanzania 2010: 2nd overall Uganda Pearl 2010: 5th (rally stopped due to Riaz Kurji’s accident) Zimbabwe Toyota Rally 2011: 3rd overall Zimbabwe Toyota Rally 2012: 4th overall Zambia Puma Energy Rally 2012: Leader till end of leg 1B but broke down in Leg 2 due to transmission problem.

when one has to traverse the African continent.

“It’s not easy I must say. But I have structured my work by giving more task, duties and responsibilities to my colleagues and employees.

And when I’m back from rallies, I work for 12 hours a day even more to catch up.” And asked about the big boys of Kenyan racing, Giancarlo remarked: “Big drivers who know very well their roads in Kenya and are almost obdurant on their soil!”

2013 RWANDA MOUNTAIN GORILLA RALLY ENTRY LIST DRIVER - CO-DRIVER DAVITEGIANCARLO VINDEVOGEL SYLVIA FITIDIS CHRISTAKIS ERIC NZAMWITA MURENGEZI JOHNNY NKUBITOEGIDE MANGAT JAS GIHAN DA SILVA MITRAROS ELEFTER PAGANIN PAOLO KWIZERA CLAUDE PHILLIPE VDH MUNGYEREZA EDSON MUSIIME ERNEST OTEGA ISMAEL KITINGI EDIJARD SEMPEBWA ABDU WAMALA FRANCIS MUGISHA PATRICK LUGOLOOBI ARTHUR KANSIIME JONAS BONGOLE JOSEPH MAYAKA FELEKENI MUREMBA IDRISSA WAMPAMBA FRED OLIN ENOCH ABBAS MOHAMED MERALI MAZAHIR JANVIER MUTUGA JULES UWIMANA SEMANA GENESE HAKIZIMANA JACQUES CYATANGABO ANGE NTIRUSHWA HELGA SHIRI HELEN MIONKI TUTA KIWEEWA PATRICK MUGISHA SAMUEL BUKENYA ABAAS KATUMBA ALI MAYANJA OMAR SSENYANGE LEON JASSY SINGH DAVID SIHOKA

NAT. VEHICLE CLASS ARC RWA SUBARU IMPREZA N11 3 V RWA EAU SUBARU IMPREZA N12 3 V EAU RWA SUBARU IMPREZA N4 S

RWA EAK SUBARU IMPREZA N12 2 V EAK RWA SUBARU IMPREZA N10 3

RWA RWA SUBARU IMPREZA N10 3 RWA EAU SUBARU IMPREZA N4 S EAU EAU RUNX 2WD EAU EAU SUBARU IMPREZA N11 3 EAU EAU MITSUBISHI LANCER EVO 8 S EAU EAU SUBARU IMPREZA N10 3 EAU RWA MITSUBISHI LANCER EVO 3 S RWA EAU SUBARU IMPREZA N10 3 EAU BRD CELICA S BRD RWA PEUGOT 205 S RWA RWA PEUGOT 205 S RWA RWA GOLF S RWA EAK SUBARU N4 S EAK EAU RUNX 2WD EAU EAU RUNX 2WD EAU EAU RUNX 2WD EAU ZMB SUBARU N10 3 ZMB

LEG�2��SECTION�5-6 GENERAL�MAP CS�10-12

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12

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Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally 2013 Bulletin by Anwar Sidi

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Photography by: Anwar Sidi

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Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally 2013

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LEG�1B��SECTION�4

21:00

GENERAL�MAP

11:14 11:34 12:19 12:22 13:02 13:05 13:50

SERVICE PARC�FERME

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First Car Due 08:30 08:33 08:48 09:33 09:36 10:16 10:19 11:04

Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally 2013 Bulletin by Anwar Sidi

CS 3 - 5

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CS 4 - 6

First Car Due 08:00 08:03 08:13 08:38 08:41 09:21 09:24 10:39 10:49 11:09 11:34 11:37 12:17 12:20 13:35 13:45 14:05 14:50 14:53 15:33 15:36 16:21 16:24 17:00 17:12

GENERAL MAP

13:53 14:03 14:06

*% 1.60 2.17 36.18

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SEPTEMBER 2013

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TOTAL DISTANCES OF THE RALLY CS Liaison Total Leg 1A - 2 CS 4.60 27.00 31.60 Leg 1B - 6 CS 174.60 171.90 346.50 Leg 2 - 4 CS 101.60 136.80 238.40 Total - 12 CS 280.80 335.70 616.50

LEG 1B SECTION 2-3 First Car Due 13.45 14.00 15.43 16:46 17:52

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SERVICE PARC�FERME

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RWANDA MOUNTAIN GORILLA RALLY 2013 ITINERARY Start LEG 1A FRIDAY 21 September 2013 TC LOCATION Start Parc - PSF GIKONDO CEREMONIAL START RALLY CS1 QUARRY SUPER STAGE CS2 QUARRY SUPER STAGE TC 2D Parc Fermé IN - PSF GIKONDO Overnight Parc Fermé PSF GIKONDO LEG 1A Totals 31.60KM TIMING - ITINERARY SATURDAY 21 SEPTEMBER 2013 Start LEG 1B TC LOCATION TC 2E overnight PARC FERME OUT TC 2F Service IN TC 2G Service OUT TC 3 MUHANDA 1 CS 3 MUHANDA1 - RULI 1 TC 4 BUSORO 1 CS 4 BUSORO 1 - MUHONDO 1 TC4A Regroup IN - PSF GIKONDO TC 4B Regroup OUT - Service IN TC 4C Service OUT TC 5 MUHANDA 2 CS 5 MUHANDA2 - RULI 2 TC 6 BUSORO 2 CS 6 BUSORO 2- MUHONDO 2 TC 6A Regroup IN - PSF GIKONDO TC 6B Regroup OUT - Service IN TC 6C Service OUT TC 7 MUKOTO 1 CS 7 MUKOTO 1 - RUSASA 1 TC 8 KAJEVUBA 1 CS 8 KAJEVUBA 1- NDUBA 1 TC 8A TECHNICAL Zone IN- PSF GIKONDO TC 8B TECHNICAL Zone OUT - Service IN TC 8C Service OUT TC 8D Parc Fermé IN - PSF GIKONDO LEG 1B TOTALS All cars must be returned to Parc Fermé not later than SUNDAY 22 SEPTEMBER 2013 Start LEG 2 TC LOCATION TC 8E PARC Ferme OUT - PSF GIKONDO TC 8F Service IN TC 8G Service OUT TC 9 MUKOTO CS 9 MUKOTO 2- RUSASA2 TC 10 KAJEVUBA CS 10 KAJEVUBA 2- NDUBA2 TC Regroup IN 10A TC Regroup OUT - Service IN 10B TC Service OUT 10C TC 11 MUKOTO CS 11 MUKOTO 3 -RUSASA 3 TC 12 KAJEVUBA CS 12 KAJEVUBA 3- NDUBA 3 TC TECHNICAL Zone IN 12A TC TECHNICAL Zone OUT -Service IN 12B TC Service OUT - Podium PSF GIKONDO 12C TC Parc Fermé FINAL - PSF GIKONDO 12D

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Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally 2013 Bulletin by Anwar Sidi

Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally 2013

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