Burger opts out

By Douglas Mazune REIGNING Africa champion Schalk Burger has pulled out of the Petro Pearl of Africa Uganda rally due this weekend citing a tight business schedule in UK. South African Burger who had left his Subaru Impreza in Kampala after the Fraternity rally in Rwanda, where he clinched the 2001 Africa Rally Championship (ARC) title, had registered to compete in Uganda as well. “Burger’s men collected the car yesterday (Wednesday), they towed it via Nairobi,” a foreign driver told The New Vision after the pre-rally press conference at Hotel Equatoria yesterday. Former Africa champion, Charles Muhangi whose Subaru Impreza ‘Ekitaguriiro’ could not be repaired in time has switched to a Mitsubishi Evo6. “The mechanics wanted another seven days to finish rebuilding the engine of the Subaru so he couldn’t wait,” the event manager of the AAU organised rally Geoffrey Nangumya said. Kenya’s Rory Green (Subaru Impreza), Fazal Butt (Subaru Impreza) and Paul Bailey (Toyota Celica ST205) are already in the country while their compatriots Jamil Khan, John Ngunjiri and Azar Anwar were still expected by press time. Rwanda’s Nathalie Cox and Burundian Jean Jean also arrived on Wednesday. Scrutineering of cars will be conducted today at Petro refuelling station on Bombo road ahead of flag off tomorrow. The event that is the sixth round on the ARC calendar is sponsored by Petro Uganda, Hotel Equatoria, Viper Room and TV Africa. The TOTAL Quartz rally due for September 8-9 has also registered an increase in entries with William Blick as the latest driver to register. The entry now stands at 19. Blick who has landed sponsorship from TOTAL Uganda and Nippon Parts particularly for this rally said he is still looking for a navigator. His co-driver Arthur Blick is out of the country. Ends