Rautenbach is favourite for Pearl rally
Apr 11, 2007
DRIVING a Pro-drive built Subaru Impreza N10, 21-year-old reigning Junior World Rally Champion Conrad Rautenbach is my favourite to win this rally.
By Charlie Lubega
DRIVING a Pro-drive built Subaru Impreza N10, 21-year-old reigning Junior World Rally Champion Conrad Rautenbach is my favourite to win this rally.
At 18 years, Conrad in an underpowered basic Corolla RSI 1600 stole the show in the 2003 TOTAL Pearl of Africa rally, winning many Ugandan fans as he beat superior cars to finish on the podium (3rd).
Currently second in the African Rally Championship with 22 points, Conrad is a strong contender to win the ARC title — if he can do all the rounds.
The top 10 to watch
1. Conrad Rautenbach
Rautenbach is extremely quick and has an aggressive style of breaking desperately late and heavy. My concern is he tends to get mechanical problems which compromises his performance and position.
His presence will add a lot of spice to the Pearl, giving Ugandan fans a chance to see a world rally champion of the future.
2. Hideaki Miyoshi
In a works Mitsubishi Evo 9, the Japanese driver is the current leader of the African Rally Championship with 26 points. Miyoshi has a unique silky-smooth style of driving that has proved effective and he knows how to nurse his car to the finish. He could win, if Conrad experiences mechanical problems.
3. Emma Katto
Driving a Pro-drive built Subaru Impreza N10, EMKA, is my third seed based on his performance in the Kenyan leg of the ARC where he matched stage times with the frontrunners when his car was repaired.
I am apprehensive seeding him this high though, because this speed merchant of yester-many- years, has a low finishing record arising from crashes and mechanical problems.
4. Ponsiano Lwakataka
In an inferior Subaru Impreza N4, Ponsiano is still the man to beat for as long as his car holds together. This guy is not only quick but extremely daring that if he were driving a works Subaru N10 I would rank him up there with Conrad and Miyoshi.
5. Ronald Ssebuguzi
Driving a Mitsubishi Evo4 (my former car) the reigning Ugandan champion is expected to shine because of his consistency and knowledge of the route. He is too cautious and calculative to push for a win but should the frontrunners break down or experience mechanical problems he will be ready to pounce.
6. Asad Anwar
(Mitsubishi Evo6)
7. Muna Singh
(Subaru N10):
8. Lola Verlaqu
The South African ladies in a Subaru Impreza are eagerly awaited by Ugandan fans and I believe they will shock many.
9. Omar Mayanja
(Mitsubishi Evo4):
10: Faisal Tezikuba
(Subaru N 4):
Charlie Lubega is a four-time (2000, 2001, 2002 and 2004) Uganda national rally champion and won the Pearl of Africa rally a record three times. He still holds two records (171-km/h and 176-km/h) for the highest average speeds
DRIVING a Pro-drive built Subaru Impreza N10, 21-year-old reigning Junior World Rally Champion Conrad Rautenbach is my favourite to win this rally.
At 18 years, Conrad in an underpowered basic Corolla RSI 1600 stole the show in the 2003 TOTAL Pearl of Africa rally, winning many Ugandan fans as he beat superior cars to finish on the podium (3rd).
Currently second in the African Rally Championship with 22 points, Conrad is a strong contender to win the ARC title — if he can do all the rounds.
The top 10 to watch
1. Conrad Rautenbach
Rautenbach is extremely quick and has an aggressive style of breaking desperately late and heavy. My concern is he tends to get mechanical problems which compromises his performance and position.
His presence will add a lot of spice to the Pearl, giving Ugandan fans a chance to see a world rally champion of the future.
2. Hideaki Miyoshi
In a works Mitsubishi Evo 9, the Japanese driver is the current leader of the African Rally Championship with 26 points. Miyoshi has a unique silky-smooth style of driving that has proved effective and he knows how to nurse his car to the finish. He could win, if Conrad experiences mechanical problems.
3. Emma Katto
Driving a Pro-drive built Subaru Impreza N10, EMKA, is my third seed based on his performance in the Kenyan leg of the ARC where he matched stage times with the frontrunners when his car was repaired.
I am apprehensive seeding him this high though, because this speed merchant of yester-many- years, has a low finishing record arising from crashes and mechanical problems.
4. Ponsiano Lwakataka
In an inferior Subaru Impreza N4, Ponsiano is still the man to beat for as long as his car holds together. This guy is not only quick but extremely daring that if he were driving a works Subaru N10 I would rank him up there with Conrad and Miyoshi.
5. Ronald Ssebuguzi
Driving a Mitsubishi Evo4 (my former car) the reigning Ugandan champion is expected to shine because of his consistency and knowledge of the route. He is too cautious and calculative to push for a win but should the frontrunners break down or experience mechanical problems he will be ready to pounce.
6. Asad Anwar
(Mitsubishi Evo6)
7. Muna Singh
(Subaru N10):
8. Lola Verlaqu
The South African ladies in a Subaru Impreza are eagerly awaited by Ugandan fans and I believe they will shock many.
9. Omar Mayanja
(Mitsubishi Evo4):
10: Faisal Tezikuba
(Subaru N 4):
Charlie Lubega is a four-time (2000, 2001, 2002 and 2004) Uganda national rally champion and won the Pearl of Africa rally a record three times. He still holds two records (171-km/h and 176-km/h) for the highest average speeds