By YVONNE SAKALA  at Lusaka Motor Club –
NDOLA-BASED driver Leroy Gomes yesterday took an overnight lead of the Pembe national motor rally after clocking 1.37 seconds during the spectator stage held at the Lusaka Motor Club.
Gomes, who is fourth on the drivers standing on 47 points, put up a dominant but exciting stage beating 21 other drivers with champion Muna Singh Junior finishing third 1.43 seconds while his father and drivers leader Muna Singh ended in fifth place.
Three drivers tied in joint second position and these were Miles Monge, Zubair Essa, Farook Ticklay with a time of 1.41 seconds.
Kleeven Gomes timed 1.44 seconds to finish fourth followed by Muna Singh senior who clocked 1.45 seconds together with Vyon Pinto and Yazdaan Ticklay.
Muna Junior said he was not worried with his third place finish as the round was just for the spectators to see the cars but vowed to put up a different show today when in Chisamba.
He said his main threat in the competition is his father Muna, who leads the national rally with 68 points, and hopes to close the gap by winning the fourth leg of the national rally.
“This rally is between me and my father, he is leading the championship by four points, so I am going to try hard and get ahead of him and win the championship,” he said.
Muna Senior said the start was too good but that he dropped his shaft but was not worried because been behind other drivers will allow them to clean the road for him.
“We are going to drive with our heads as well as our foot, and finish somewhere in the podium and pick up points. It’s a win, win situation for me racing against my son, if he wins (Muna Junior) then it shows I have taught him well and if I win it means he still has a long way to go,” Muna Senior said.