The Citizen (Dar es Salaam)
Miguel Suleyman,Arusha
26 August 2008
Arusha Motor Sports Club driver Gamdust Hadji combined well with navigator Bashir Suleiman to seal off his maiden national motor rally championship title that ended in Arusha at the weekend. The duo used a Subaru Impreza N10 to outclass overnight leader Amarjit Dhillon to wrap up the historical victory in the event held to mark Nane Nane Day.
The duo spent 2 hours, 25 minutes and? 49 seconds? to beat? a field of 12 drivers who competed in the thrilling show that counts towards the national title. "It was a stiff competition that needed extra driving skills to beat the field," said Haji whose credentials in motor sport is well documented.
The Sunvic sponsored rally saw?only seven drivers out of twelve who started at Sunvic Yard, finishing. Notable?retirements due to mechanical difficulties include Sartaj Hans, Najib Shams and Issa Majalla.
Second placed Preetam Gundamal who was navigated by Mubin Sumra in a Subaru Legacy won with a timing of 2 hours, 25 minutes and 55 seconds to cover the 350km race. Moshi-based duo of Mohamed Sadick?and Ashraf Mustafa,? finished third losing 2 hours, 29 minutes and 05 seconds in a Range Rover.
Fourth placed was Khalid Kassam/Fadhil Ngowi? from Arusha who spent 2:39:59 in a Subaru Impreza, while Dhillon and his navigator Wenna Brown had to settle for the fifth slot despite using ultra modern Subaru Impreza N12.
Kilimanjaro-based Ruhlamin Sayed /Ridhiwan Saidi finished?at sixth position ahead of hard fighting ladies Zainab Mnjeja and her South African navigator Megan Verlaque. Their timings were 2:50:59. Marco Fereirra? and Navin Bashir? who clocked 3:50:30 in Subaru Impreza took seventh place. This is the third event in the Automobile Association of Tanzania's calendar after the Tanga and Alliance-Kobil events staged since the new season started in January.
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