By GWEN CHIPASULA –

in Chisamba
FORMER Africa Rally champion Jassy Singh announced his return to the African rally stage by taking the first day lead in the 2016 Zambia international motor rally, which also counts towards the Africa Rally Championship (ARC).
Jassy Singh took first place on an eventful day where he finished with a time of 1:24.36 hours ahead of 26 other drivers who started the race, but he is not taking part in the ARC.
From those drivers, just 17 got to the finish line.
In second place was Jassy’s younger brother and national rally champion Muna Singh junior, who finished the first day clocking1:25:08 hours, which is less than a minute behind.
Muna junior took part in the second ARC and is carrying 25 points following Kenyan driver Don Smith, who is carrying 36 points but had a bad ride yesterday when he only managed to finish in seventh place, clocking 1:33:31 hours.
The Chulu brothers, who have made their first appearance after being out of competition for a year, finished third, clocking 1:29:07 hours while Zubair Essa was on fourth place timing 1:29:35 hours. Leroy Gomes secured firth place after clocking 1:30:33 hours.
Yazdaan Ticklay took up sixth place clocking 12:33.41 hours while Kenyan driver Don Smith was lying seventh with a time of 1:33:11 hours.
In eighth place was Kleeven Gomes. Vyon Pinto took the ninth place with Kelvin Mlanga getting the 10th position.
Harminder Singh was 11th and the winner of the first national rally Muna Singh senior clocked 1:36:45 hours in 12th position.
Leader Jassy Singh said his target was to push hard today so he can win the competition.
The Kenyan driver Smith has identified the Singh family as tough, adding that the trio gave him a tough challenge.
Smith said it was hard to keep up with the fast pace of the Singh brothers, adding that he would challenge them in Uganda and Tanzania for the next international rallies.
“The competition has been very competitive, especially with the Singh brothers. These boys are really pushing and it’s hard to keep up the pace.
“I was just here to pick up points for the ARC; I was not here to compete and I don’t want to challenge them, they are really tough but I will challenge them in Uganda and Tanzania, they know these routes,” he said.
And Muna junior said his target was to finish in the second place and add to his points on the ARC.
He said his main goal was to collect his 25 points for the ARC, adding that being eight minutes ahead of Smith was an exciting development for him since Smith was his major competitor in the continental title.
The competition continues today at Barn Motel in Chongwe.