by Geoff Mayes


BRC and JRC runner, Conrad Rautenbach put in a perfect performance on the Zulu Rally last weekend, round five of the 2007 FIA African Rally Championship.

Rautenbach brought his Jardine Lloyd Thompson-supported Subaru Impreza home second overall and in the process he also took maximum African championship points as well.

Rautenbach headed to South Africa well aware that the locals held the upper hand but with one eye firmly on the championship the young Zimbabwean was intent on just running his own rally. With his Group N Subaru at a disadvantage though the twisty sections, as well as having dust problems to contend with, Rautenbach, co-driven by David Senior, was pleasantly surprised to find himself lying second overall at the end of day one, a mere 20 seconds behind the leading VW Polo S2000 and ahead of another five S2000's.

With dust proving to be a real problem on day two, Rautenbach backed off and focused on the finish, cruising home over 5 minutes ahead of his nearest championship rival after two action packed days of rallying.

“David and I had a nice clean rally. No dramas, no problems, just a good event,” he reflected. “I was really pleased to be so close to the pace of Fekken in the S2000 Polo and I reckon if it hadn't been for the dust on Sunday we could have mounted a challenge!

“Next up is my home rally and there is a chance I could wrap up the title there.”

Rautenbach now has a few weeks break before his next event. Whilst he might contest the Ypres Rally in Belgium, he will definitely be back in action on the Zimbabwe Challenge Rally, an event he has won for the past two years in a row.