Kurji involved in accident

Jul 13, 2005

A bus carrying Ugandan top driver Riyaz Kurji’s rally car was extensively damaged when it was involved in an accident early yesterday morning, 20km outside Kericho town in Kenya.

By Reuben Olita
in Nairobi

A bus carrying Ugandan top driver Riyaz Kurji’s rally car was extensively damaged when it was involved in an accident early yesterday morning, 20km outside Kericho town in Kenya.

However, the crew survived death by a whisker when a lorry reportedly rammed into their bus which was ferrying the rally car to Nairobi for Thursday’s scruteenering at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre.

The incident comes barely two months after another one involving Kurji crew when the driver, Bax Kasumali, and a mechanic died of suffocation after the exhaust system of their bus started leaking, thus emitting carbon monoxide on the Namanga border with Tanzania.

They were ferrying Kurji’s car to South Africa for an African Rally championships. Kurji had to withdraw from the rally.

Kenya Motor Sport Foundation general manager, Achie Khan said yesterday Sagoo Motors of Kericho were making frantic efforts to repair the damaged bus so that it can ferry the car to Nairobi ahead of the scruteenering and Friday’s start of the event.

The incident did not deter Kurji’s spirited efforts to salvage Uganda’s reputation in the event.

He headed for the Elementaita lodge for the reccing yesterday with a promise to return his Subaru Impreza car to the podium finish in top position.

One of the quickest drivers in the ARC circuit, lady luck has eluded the Ugandan since winning the first round in Tanzania. He led in the Zambian rally until the final stage, only to retire with transmission failure.

Zambian top rally drivers, Muna Singh and Paul Monge could find themselves non-starters on Friday after the Kenya Revenue Authority detained their rally cars at the Jomo Kenyatta Airport owing to unpaid customs duty.

Khan said the two have virtually been locked out of the event, since it might take more than two days to clear the vehicles.

A total of 38 drivers will battle for honours in the ARC ranked event which marks the fifth round of the ARC. Uganda has three entrants- Kurji, Amin Lalani and Ponsiano Lwakataka.

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