. Essa

By SANDRA MWILA –
MOHAMMED Essa has said competing in the first round of the national rally championship will greatly help him prepare for the 2014 African Rally Challenge (ARC).
Essa said yesterday that he wants to use the rally to kick-start his preparations for the FIA-African Rally Championship (ARC).
The Zambia Motor Sport Association (ZMSA) will for the first time hold a rally in the rainy season aimed at giving drivers that will compete in the ARC a test of what to expect at continental level.
“It will be a good test for me and my navigator to see how perform in the muddy as this will be the first time that the national rally will be held under such conditions. Racing in the mud will greatly help prepare for the challenges of the ARC,” said the former African champion.
And ZMSA vice president Sam Ching’ambu said the decision to have the rally during the rainy season was aimed at exposing the drivers to compete in such conditions in readiness of the ARC.
Ching’ambu said in a separate interview that there was need for the local drivers to have a feel of racing in the mud especially the likes of Mohammed Essa and Kenny Mukosa who will be competing in the ARC.
He said the association has managed to raise the K30,000 needed to successfully host the first round of the national rally championship.
Ching’ambu expressed happiness with the support ZMSA has received from the various sponsors ahead of the rally.
He thanked Madison General Insurance, Manzi Valley, Group Three Security, Automotive Performance Centre and Kelvin Exhausts for the support rendered towards this event.
“This rally is different from all the rallies because we normally don’t hold rallies during this period owing to the rains but we thought it wise to have the drivers a feel of what they will expect during the ARC,” he said.
He said ZMSA has changed venue from the traditional Lusaka Motor Club to the Graham Raes Farm which he said will be a good place for the drivers to practice racing in rainy and muddy conditions.
Champion Kenny Mukosa will lead a host of 19 drivers that include former winners Jassy Singh and Essa, Farook Ticklay, Ahmed Essa, Miles Monge, Muna Singh junior, Shabbir Amin, Walter Wasamunu, Geofrey Chulu, Toofail Dalal and Mohammed Vimba.
The rest are Colin Gander, Yazdaan Ticklay, Kelvin Mhlanga, Azim Ticklay, Dani Beani, Chimanga Biyela and Jurgen Sauter.