By SAMUEL LUKHANDA –
THE motor racing couple of Leroy Gomes and wife Urshlla are in Kenya for the Safari Rally slated for this weekend as they seek to make amends for the misfortune of the season-opening Rallye Bandam in Ivory Coast.
Competing for the first time in the Africa Rally Championship (ARC) this year, the Zambian couple was overwhelmed as they crashed out in the third stage of the rally.
A damaged suspension on their newly acquired Mitsubishi Evo-10 meant they had to retire despite being in the top three in the race.
Leroy knows he needs to put points on the board in ARC title chase and the Safari will bring with it experienced drivers eager to garner points from the race but  he stands ready for the challenge.
“With the new scoring system that requires us to be fast, our only aim will be to just get in on the top ten and score some points. I believe we shall manage. I know it won’t be easy because we are literally having some of the best in Africa competing for a Safari win,” said Gomes.
The Gomes Racing team fondly known as ‘Acid Boys’ left for Kenya boasting a band of brothers as Leroy will have more familiar faces unlike in Ivory Coast where he was the only ARC contender among 12 other racing crews.
The Acid Boys have the Gomes brothers Leroy and Kleevan, Singh brothers Muna jr and Jassy, and Khan brothers Sajid and Zunaid in their ranks as they chase a piece of history at the Safari Rally.
The Safari Rally begins tomorrow (Friday), March 17th and runs until to Sunday 19th in Nairobi.