TZW
The event’s Coordinator from organisers-- Kilimanjaro Motor Sports Club (KMSC), Guljit Dhani said the one-day rally will be a stiff competition from Kilimanjaro-based drivers against those coming from Dar es Salaam.
Dhani said there was only entry; Gurpal Sandhu confirmed from Arusha until yesterday while other prominent drivers like Gerald Miller and Jayant Shah were yet to confirm. Sandhu, who drives ultra-fast Mitsubishi Evo X, told the ‘Daily News on Saturday’ from Arusha yesterday that he will be alone in the coming round.
“I don’t think Miller and Shah will be coming to Moshi this time around,” said Sandhu. The hosts Kilimanjaro, according to the coordinator will bank on Harry Singh trio of Ajminder, Guljit and Rajpar, all in Mitsubishi GBV. “I think it will be a replica of Tanga Rally that was dominated by drivers from Dar es Salaam and Kilimanjaro.
Dharam Pandya from Dar es Salaam won the season opener followed by KMSC crew, Rajpar Dhani, both in Subaru GBVs. Viasakhi Rally is second round of this year’s National Rally Championship (NRC) to be staged early next month in Moshi, Kilimanjaro and its environs. It is a one-day rally to be staged on April 8 in areas around Sanya Juu, and according to the chairman of the organising committee, Guljit Dhani, bumper entry is expected this time around.
Dhani named the regions whose drivers already confirmed participation as Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Tanga, Iringa, Morogoro and hosts Kilimanjaro. Dhani said the rally is officially known as Vaisakhi Rally 2018 and is bankrolled by Sikh Community.
He, however, confirmed there was no foreign entry so far though he expected to have drivers from Kenya, Uganda and Zambia. Adding he said: “we expect at least thirty entries this year and beat our last year record of 25 entries,” said Dhani.
Among the top seeded drivers include Ajminder Singh and Rajpar Dhani from Kilimanjaro and Gurpal Sandhu from Arusha. Mzizima Motor Sports Club will bank on Dharam Pandya, Jamil Khan and Randeep Birdi while Ahmed Huwel from Iringa will be testing his Ford Fiesta Proto in the event too. There are eight rounds of NRC this year as opposed to seven rounds in last year