*News from the net:
Hideaki Miyoshi, co-driven by Hakaru Ichino of Japan won
the 2008 Zimbabwe Challenge at the weekend, taking a
firm step towards claiming the champion’s title of this
year’s FIA African Rally Championship 2008. Miyoshi and
co-driver Hakaru Ichino steered their Mitsubishi Evo 9
to victory after a fast-paced and gruelling rally that
saw only 10 of the original 17 starters finish the
three-day event.
Fourth overall but second in the ARC was Muna Singh and
David Sihoka from Zambia in their Subaru Impreza. The
event was a major disappointment for Zimbabweans Jamie
Whyte and Phil Archenoul, who were leading the drivers’
and co-drivers’ points in the Africa Rally Championship
this year after a string of victories in other
countries. They went out of the rally after a crash
early on day two when their Mitsubishi Lancer skidded
off the road in a forest and the car was stuck between
trees – losing not only the chance to claim the
prestigious Zimbabwe Challenge titles but also their
lead of the African Rally Championship, now headed by
the Japanese.
Zimbabweans took the other two podium places – Craig
Green and Mike Exton second in their Mitsubishi Evo 4
and Richard Robinson and Colin Schreiber third in their
Mitsubishi Evo 8. Both Zimbabweans are not registered to
score ARC points.
For the ARC Miyoshi needs to finish third in the Zambia
International Rally and will be home and dry. Two time
African Champion Muna Singh is placed second on 24
points with Jamie Whyte patched on third overall
position with 23 points. The ARC is still open and fight
will go to Zambia.
