The second round of action is ready to begin in the FIA African Rally Championship. The city of Ndola in Zambia’s copper belt will be the site of this prestigious event. A welcome return since 2019 when Ndola last hosted the Zambia round of the championship. The event’s organization was given to the Ndola Motorsport Club by the Zambian Motorsport Federation (ZMSA).
Although the ARC entry list is disappointing, it has not dampened the excitement and anticipation that are expected in the lead-up to the event. Jas Mangat of Uganda, who was expected to be a title contender this year, has decided not to participate due to a busy business schedule.
Kenya’s, Hamza Anwar, pulled out of the competition in the days leading up to the start due to financial constraints and decided not to travel to Zambia. Current leader Karan Patel, winner of the 2023 ARC, and navigator Tauseef Kahn in a Skoda R5 will now be the only old hands in this round of the championship.
Karan won’t be able to breeze through this tournament solo! For his first-ever international ARC event, South African driver JJ Potgieter with Rikus Fourie in the hotseat, traveled to Zambia to make their mark in the championship. He holds the 2023 South African Rally Championship crown.
The Hyundai i20 R4 that the South Africans will be driving will be tested to its limits. This 1600 turbo, 4WD vehicle is set to turn heads as spectators and experts alike await its performance against Patel’s R5. The Hyundai i20 car homologated in South Africa competes in SA Premier Class AR 1 (Africa Rally 1). A class was developed specifically for a new generation of 4WD cars.
The reliability and running cost of the car are impressive, as competitors always look for ways to keep costs down but still want to be able to stay on pace and be competitive. Another key factor is that the cars are built in South Africa, which is another plus point in terms of cost-effectiveness.
In order to keep expanding our championship, we must begin to think outside the box. There needs to be consideration for new vehicles that can withstand the African stages as potential additions. The key phrase here is that it is less expensive, easier to control maintenance costs, and reliable enough to stay at the top end when competing. Well with all that said, the proof will be in the pudding. We will have to wait and see when the final classifications are set in stone. Good luck to both Karan and JJ. All eyes will be on you, boys!!
This is the perfect opportunity to showcase the capabilities of the AR 1 spec automobile, which is manufactured in South Africa specifically for the African market. I can already feel my interest piqued.
The goal is to make it far cheaper than the R4 homologated cars, which are based on the R4 Kit. What AR 1 aims to accomplish is to be a practical and competitive little devil with a few inexpensive bells and whistles to make it stand out from the crowd.
Patel began his pursuit of a second African championship with a victory in the season-opening race in Uganda, driving the Skoda Fabia and earning all available points. He will have a significant edge over any title contenders if he wins another race. On the other hand, Patel will face Johannes Potgieter of South Africa for the right to fight in the round.
No one knows whether the South African champion plans to defend his ARC crown just yet. If Potgieter, driving a Hyundai i20, wins the Zambia rally, it might cause a shift in the standings. However, national crews like Muna Singh Jr., Mohammed Essa, and youngster Seth Gomes are adding spice to the competition.
On the local front, another experiment will be taking place. The Zambian’s are testing the performance of a B13 spec car. Another attempt to lure new competitors back into rallying with an affordable, upgraded car. Indeed, this is an event that will have many first’s. Exciting times ahead.
The 2022 ARC winner, Leroy Gomes, will not be competing because he is transitioning to officiating. During the event, Gomes will be serving as the Deputy Clerk of Course to Paul Monge CoC, taking the wheel of the event
The organizers have included a motor show with a fantastic fireworks display as part of the Rally in the Ndola stadium, planned for Saturday evening. Of course there will be a night stage in conjunction with this spectacle. This is a new addition to any rally event Africa has seen in the past.
On Friday, competitors will begin with qualification and a shakedown run, and then, over the course of the next two days, they will tackle 18 stages totaling 218.79 kilometers. Tickets to the nightstage in the stadium, Motorshow and fire works display is on sale at Computicket, Shoprite or the Rally HQ located at the Protea Hotel Ndola. Miss this and you will miss out.
