•MADISON General Insurance Company Zambia Limited managing director, Chabala Lumbwe (centre) presents a cheque for K150,000 to rally ace Mohammed Essa (right) as the firm’s sponsorship package to enable him participate in this year’s motor rallies. On the left is Essa’s navigator, Gareth Dawe. Lumbwe also presented the Zambia Motor Sports Association with a K150,000 Third Party Insurance Cover for 2015 International Motor Rally which takes place in Lusaka this weekend.

By SHAMAOMA MUSONDA –
JASSY Singh will be the main attraction this weekend as he pursues his tough quest of reclaiming the Africa Rally Championship (ARC) title in the Automotive Equipment Zambia International Rally which has 18 participants.
A one-time winner of the African title in 2013, Jassy badly wants to reclaim the ARC crown such that he does not even want to care much about the opposition he will have to face in this weekend’s race.
One of his biggest worries though will be the challenge to be provided by fellow Zambian, Mohammed Essa, who has even acquired a bigger car in the Subaru Impreza N14 for this year’s rally.
Last year on his way to finishing second to current holder Ivorian Gary Chaynes, Essa used an N12 which competed with Chaynes N14 from a weaker point.
This year he is not taking any chances and his N14 in an immaculate condition arrived in the country earlier this week for the must-win battle in the Chisamba and Chongwe terrain.
But that does not worry Jassy much as he is focussed on the ARC ranking despite the 2013 African champion Essa providing tough opposition.
“I just have to win this one, the rally at home. It just have to get me in front of the Africa Rally Championship standing,” said.
He is so determined about this rally and the ARC just as he was determined in the closing stages of last year as well as 2015 National Rally championship.
Jassy took part in the closing three local rallies last year after an early setback where his car went up in flames but managed to win the local leg.
Locally apart from Essa with his intimidating Subaru Impreza N14, there will also be his young brother Muna Junior who is lying third on the ARC ladder including the Chulu brothers who gave him a tough competition in the Pembe Rally two months ago.
On the African continent, ARC leader Jaspreet Chatthe is in the house to prove that his win in South Africa during the Sasol International Rally was indeed not a fluke and is in for the long haul fight for the 2015 title.
Chatthe is leading the ARC standing on 25 points, seven ahead of Jassy with Mina Junior on 15 points.
Today the rally will be in in Chisamba before shifting to the Chongwe terrain tomorrow.