ARC Leader Gemmel Here For The Points

By Douglas Mazuneand Fred kaweesiSouth African Johnny Gemmel and Belgian Dethier Bernard arrived over the weekend for the TOTAL Pearl of Africa Uganda rally.Gemmel, who leads the African rally championship with 30 points, will lead the foreign challenge for Pearl honours this weekend.Gemmel and Bernard left their Subaru Impreza cars in Kampala after the Rwanda rally early this month. All they have to do is fine tune them and recce.Several foreign teams are expected in the country today ahead of their route reccing on Wednesday and Thursday. Local drivers finished reccing yesterday.Dembe Rally Team drivers Kuku Ranjit and Kaka Junior have been allowed to recce with the foreigners.Meanwhile, Dipu Ruparelia has pulled out of the prestigious Pearl rally after failing to get spare parts for his Mitsubishi Evo4 in time.“It is very unfortunate, I can’t make it. I will miss out on this year’s Pearl,” Dipu said.Immediately after scrutineering on Friday, cars will head for Entebbe Botanical gardens for the super special stage.Cars will be flagged off at Didi’s Amusement Park in Kansanga on Saturday for the second leg in Mityana.The third leg on Sunday will cover Jinja, Mayuge and Kamuli.TOTAL Uganda, Hima Cement, Hotel Equatoria/Didi’s Amusement Park, South African Airways and Celtel Uganda are sponsors of the rally.r CHARLES Muhangi won the continental title a few years back, but he still has another African dream.Muhangi is hungry for success in the Safari, and the Pearl of Africa rally. “Just to have this title alongside my name will make my career complete. It will mean everything to my family and fans,” Muhangi told New Vision. “If the fans would just give me the same incredible support, then I really do believe that I will win it,” he said.Muhangi gives the impression he is also changing his rally tactics, from sheer speed to tactical driving and will be aided by a WRC Subaru.“I have learnt with time that you can not win big events just with speed. You have to have a reliable all round performance.”“You need all sorts of weapons in your armoury to be able to get to the top, so, I request my fans stay away from the corners and to ensure that the roads are clear for me to win,” he quipped.Ends