By William Louw
Exciting things were happening in the African rally scene last season (2023). Iringa, Tanzania, was the site of the FIA African Rally Championship’s penultimate round. Yassin Nasser and Jas Mangat, navigated by Frenchmen Jules Escartefigue and Joseph Kamya in the hotseat next to Yasin, lost to Kenyans Karan Patel and Tauseef Khan in the end.
So many difficulties beset the season. A change in Yassin Nasser’s navigator occurred when Joseph Kamya took Ali Katumba’s place. And then there was May of this year, when Karan Patel withdrew from the Pearl of Africa Rally. Jas Mangat brought a new co-driver along when he traded in his Mitsubishi Evo 10 for a Hyundai R5. The Frenchman, Jules Escartefigue, brings a plethora of global expertise. Julius, we are delighted to have you join our family! Karibu, Welcome to our family. Prince Nyerere of Tanzania is a new contender for the Junior ARC, and we must not overlook him.
The highlight of this year was definitely welcoming Burundi to our calendar, which was an absolutely unforgettable event! We are proud of you, Burundi. After a 30-year hiatus, it is great to see you again! The adrenaline-pumping rallies that we have come to expect from Burundi will continue for many more years to come.
“Go play elsewhere!!” is the message that I am sending to anyone who claims the African Rally Championship is losing steam. I think we are doing great. A HUGE THANK YOU! Both our devoted followers and our fiercest rivals are putting forth their best effort.
Things then became a little heated at the Zambia International rally. Disagreements are inevitable in any normal, healthy family. Following Karan and Tausseef’s soft roll on the shakedown stage, Jas Mangat questioned the validity of a tail wing that did not conform to its homologation specs. Boys will be boys. When the reward is worthwhile, every effort will be made to achieve it. As gentlemanly young men, the lads shook it off, and now everything is OK. Devoted Athletes.
Then let’s talk about our youngsters. We love all of our children equally (and sometimes even more) and without reservation, even though we do have some problematic children like any other family. In the 2023 ARC Junior Championship for drivers, our own Kenyan boy Hamza Anwar won first place for a second year running. The steward’s room occasionally has him in trouble with the grey old owls because he is an entertainer! Could we imagine life without him? Not in my opinion! Your contribution to this achievement is not an oversight, Adnan, even though we do not officially acknowledge you as Junior Co-Driver Champion (there is only a driver award). Fantastic work, my friend. You have just as much right to claim this championship as our boy Hamza does.
Tanzanian Prince Nyerere really stepped up his game during his rookie season in the ARC. Wow, you are really doing well for a first-time rally, Prince! Keep going. Persevere. The leading group of “Grey Beards” have covered a great distance in dust to reach their current position. Achieving greatness is within your reach.
As I sat in the wee hours of the morning at Dar es Salaam Airport, waiting for my flight home, I gathered my thoughts and memories of the past year. What an incredible season! I feel incredibly fortunate to be a part of it.
I want to express my deep pride in the progress we have made in ensuring safety in Africa. Every one of our fantastic sport’s organisers stepped up to the plate to ensure that our events were safer than before! A huge THANK YOU to everyone involved. GREAT JOB! Keep it up.
For all of our amazing African fans, thank you! When it comes to sports, you are our world. We greatly appreciate your support of our rally teams. We should keep doing this. Every event is filled with thrilling action because of you. Teams are competing to provide you with entertainment! Just like the last three years, let us keep our events completely incident-free next year! Africa, well done!!
Thank you for competing and for supporting your sport. Keep the FIA African Rally Championship close to your heart, nurture it, and, above all, savor every moment of it! The stuff of legends is made here.
I salute all of our marshals who have stood firm in the face of wind, dust, and rain. You are tremendously appreciated for all that you do for this sport. The lifeblood of any organization is its volunteer workforce. Even though you may not always feel it, please know that you are greatly appreciated. The immense value you have added has been acknowledged and valued. We are incredibly grateful.
So that is my two cents! We look forward to seeing you in Africa in 2024! You battled like fighters, Jas and Jules. You did an outstanding job winning in Tanzania. Yassin, 2024 is waiting for you! You demonstrated to us all the power of perseverance and unwavering resolve. Your rest period has ended, Leroy and Urshlla. The FIA ARC Championship is going places, and you have to be part of it! Stay the course, everyone else! The reward in the end is sweeter than honey.
“Karan and Tauseef” Savor this exact moment. Well, you certainly are deserving of it. It is an accomplishment that you, my boys, will always remember. Wow, what an incredible ride!
William is signing out.
