Chris Musumba
22 June 2008
Nairobi — After five unsuccessful attempts, Japanese driver Hideaki Miyoshi is looking forward to adding another feather in his cap by clinching his first ever KCB Safari Rally title this weekend.
Despite his rich experience on Kenyan roads, Miyoshi, who will be navigated by Hakaru Ichino in a Mitsubishi Evo 9 has failed to keep up with the johneses, his best outing being fourth place last year.
However, this year, Miyoshi is facing a new challenge as he seeks to steady his campaign in FIA's African Rally Championships. The Japanese has been in Kenya since participating in the KCB Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally in Kampala in April.
"I'm going for an outright win in the Safari Rally because I want to seal the ARC championship this year," he said on Saturday.
Miyoshi, who is seeded second in the KCB Safari Rally, faces a stiff challenge in the initial stages from ARC defending champion Muna Singh and navigator David Sihoka both from Zambia in a Subaru Impreza N11 and Uganda's Riyaz Kurji and co-driver Sayed Kadri in a Subaru Impreza N10.
They will all be battling for taking vantage positions and open a gap to ward off competition with Singh expected to start at number one while Kurji will be third off the ramp.
Last year, Miyoshi finished behind Conrad Rautenbach of Zimbabwe (who has not entered this year's rally), Kenya champion Carl 'Flash' Tundo and Fiat Grande Punto's Italian Andrea Navarra.
After the first two rounds of the ARC - the Kobil Rally of Tanzania (February) and Pearl of Africa Rally in Kampala (April) - Zambia's Muna Singh is leading the standings with 16 points.
ahead of James Whyte (Zimbabwe) with 15 while Miyoshi is third at 11 points.
Jas Mangat (Uganda) has eight points edging out both South Africa duo of Lola Verlaque with six points and Jon Willams five. After the Safari Rally, there will be the Dunlop Zimbabwe Challenge in August and the Zambia International Rally set for September.
Though much attention is being placed on the ARC drivers and foreigners, Miyoshi warns that local drivers stand a better chance.
"Do not rule out Tundo and Lee Rose. The two, together with Asad Anwar, are known for their speed and can be a pain if they are on your chase. But I expected to have a better race than Ugandans Riyaz Kurji and Emma Katto."
Kenya only has five drivers in campaign for the ARC led by veteran Azar Anwar, Asad Anwar, Peter Horsey, Alfir Khan and Don Smith.
Miyoshi has not had successful season in the ARC after finishing eighth in Tanzania before forfeiting his overnight lead at the eleventh hour to settle for second overall slot in Kampala.
"I will be doing my test drive on Tuesday around Ngong Hills area just to fine-tune the car to local settings. Tanzania was not favourable. Our rally car was stuck at Mombasa port and we had to resort to a borrowed Mitsubishi Lancer rally car and struggled with poor suspension to finish eighth," he added.
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