by Geoff Mayes
Conrad Rautenbach will be right up to speed for the Pirelli International Rally this week, the opening round in the 2007 Tesco 99 Octane MSA British Rally Championship, following his victory on Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally last weekend.
Rautenbach, who won the second round of the African Rally Championship, the Safari Rally last month, added another feather to his cap on Sunday, when he and fellow Zimbabwean Pete Marsh brought their Jardine Lloyd Thompson-backed Subaru Impreza N10 home with over a 3 minute advantage on their nearest rival.
It wasn't all plain sailing for the 2006 British Junior Rally champion though, as he faced some of the roughest roads in Africa, overcoming minor suspension problems and a number of punctures throughout the two-day event.
“Last year I was leading when the engine expired on me, so to win the Pearl of Africa this year is really good but it was a really tough event and I am totally exhausted now,” he noted.
“We had a couple of punctures but I was lucky that they were near the end of stages so they didn't cost me too much time.”
The win moves Rautenbach into the lead of the
FIA African Rally Championship but the young rally driver won't have much time to reflect on his victory. He now returns to the UK for the Pirelli where he will use the same PH Sport-run Citroen C2 S1600 car that he campaigns in the FIA Junior Rally Championship.
