Zim’s Whyte takes pearl
Apr 27, 2008
KCB Pearl of Africa Uganda rally dark horse Jamie Whyte found himself in the lead after Japanese Hideaki Miyoshi’s Mitsubishi Evo IX had a puncture in the ultimate section and went on to win.
By Douglas Mazune
ARC standings:
Muna 16
Whyte 15
Miyoshi 11
L. Verlaque 6
Pearly Rally results:
J. Whyte 2:39.05
H. Miyoshi 2:39.38
S. Muna 2:40.19
J. Williams 2:45.19
A. Khan 2:50.48
D. Smith 2:59.09
R. Lwakataka 3:13.39
A. Ashraff 3:36.13
P. Horsey 3:42.20
S. Muwonge 4:33.23
J. Gatonye 5:04.29
KCB Pearl of Africa Uganda rally dark horse Jamie Whyte found himself in the lead after Japanese Hideaki Miyoshi’s Mitsubishi Evo IX had a puncture in the ultimate section and went on to win.
Zimbabwean Whyte who went into the closing two sections 45 seconds behind Miyoshi seemed content with second position but ended up registering his first international victory in a career spanning over 15 years.
The 48-year-old chatty driver described his victory as memorable.
“I was fed up of finishing second or third wherever I go. I was afraid I was getting old. I am extremely happy I have made it on a route that was beautiful,†Whyte remarked.
The Zimbabwean, who ensured that the Pearl rally trophy goes to his country for the second year running, beat Miyoshi by 33 seconds. Zimbabwean, Conrad Rautenbach, now a world rally championship driver won the event last year.
The victory propelled Whyte from fourth to second position in the Africa Rally Championship with 15 points, just one behind Zambian Muna Singh.
Ugandan Jas Mangat, who finished fourth behind Muna, was disqualified. The Zambian protested to the stewards that Mangat received assistance after his car developed problems.
South African Jon Williams, who won the special stage at Lubiri on Friday, finished fifth, six minutes off the pace.
Rose Lwakataka who finished eighth overall on her international debut was the second best Ugandan driver.
Susan Muwonge returned to ramp 11th, registering her second successive Pearl rally finish.
Only five Ugandan drivers completed the rally as a host of other local competitors including pre-event favourite Emma Katto dropped out in the gruelling Mityana route.
The rally was the second round of the Africa rally championship.
The next event is the KCB Safari Rally in Kenya in June.
ARC standings:
Muna 16
Whyte 15
Miyoshi 11
L. Verlaque 6
Pearly Rally results:
J. Whyte 2:39.05
H. Miyoshi 2:39.38
S. Muna 2:40.19
J. Williams 2:45.19
A. Khan 2:50.48
D. Smith 2:59.09
R. Lwakataka 3:13.39
A. Ashraff 3:36.13
P. Horsey 3:42.20
S. Muwonge 4:33.23
J. Gatonye 5:04.29
KCB Pearl of Africa Uganda rally dark horse Jamie Whyte found himself in the lead after Japanese Hideaki Miyoshi’s Mitsubishi Evo IX had a puncture in the ultimate section and went on to win.
Zimbabwean Whyte who went into the closing two sections 45 seconds behind Miyoshi seemed content with second position but ended up registering his first international victory in a career spanning over 15 years.
The 48-year-old chatty driver described his victory as memorable.
“I was fed up of finishing second or third wherever I go. I was afraid I was getting old. I am extremely happy I have made it on a route that was beautiful,†Whyte remarked.
The Zimbabwean, who ensured that the Pearl rally trophy goes to his country for the second year running, beat Miyoshi by 33 seconds. Zimbabwean, Conrad Rautenbach, now a world rally championship driver won the event last year.
The victory propelled Whyte from fourth to second position in the Africa Rally Championship with 15 points, just one behind Zambian Muna Singh.
Ugandan Jas Mangat, who finished fourth behind Muna, was disqualified. The Zambian protested to the stewards that Mangat received assistance after his car developed problems.
South African Jon Williams, who won the special stage at Lubiri on Friday, finished fifth, six minutes off the pace.
Rose Lwakataka who finished eighth overall on her international debut was the second best Ugandan driver.
Susan Muwonge returned to ramp 11th, registering her second successive Pearl rally finish.
Only five Ugandan drivers completed the rally as a host of other local competitors including pre-event favourite Emma Katto dropped out in the gruelling Mityana route.
The rally was the second round of the Africa rally championship.
The next event is the KCB Safari Rally in Kenya in June.