By Frank Kaheesi- Head FMU Media
“I shall go flat-out in tomorrow’s long stages, have maximum enjoyment of my car, as I target a podium at end of the rally,” intimated Malick in a WhatsApp interview.
2014 African rally champion Gary Chaynes lives to his billing, as he draws first blood at the 49th Bandama rally.
The speed demon, kept his performance on top when setting up the fastest qualifying time at the 2.5km super special stage on Friday afternoon, held in the host City, Yamoussoukro.
Co-driven by Romain Comas in Mitsubishi Evox, the duo promised to open their throttles immediately from the word go, which they indeed fulfilled with the best qualifier times of two minutes, 27.9 seconds.
Trailing them in second position by five seconds behind are Maxime Abondio and Borges Hugo in Mitsubishi Mirage Proto, and experienced driver Bottari Cyril navigated by Abdallah Hyjazi in a Subaru Impreza N12B ended the day third, 14 seconds off the leader.
Another experienced driver, Fane Bakary, Co-driven by his daughter Fane Fatimaha in an Evo9 came in fourth with a time of two minutes,43.22 seconds, 9.19seconds ahead of rookie driver Gueyes Malick in Mitsubishi Evo7.
“I shall go flat-out in tomorrow’s long stages, have maximum enjoyment of my car, as I target a podium at end of the rally,” intimated Malick in a WhatsApp interview.
Crews today, wake up to a six-stage drive, starting with the 10.98km Parlementarie stage, jointly driven with the 25.6km and 5.9km X1 Kakoubroukro and Allangouanou stages respectively, before the first service.
They will then go for Zatta, Riziere and X Raphael stages, before returning to the overnight parc Ferme at the President Hotel.
More updates coming……
