By Miguel Suleyman
The Citizen Reporter
Dar es Salaam. Madagascar’s speed merchant Jean Yves Ranarivelo shrugged off stiff opposition from Zimbabwean Jamie Whyte to win the  Kobil Rally title in a dramatic finish.Navigated by Ranaivamampianini in Subaru Impreza, Ranarivelo becomes the sixth  foreign driver to win the Tanzanian round of African Rally Championship (ARC) after Ugandans Riyaz Kurji, Belgian Patrick Emontspool, Zambian Muna Singh, Japanese Hideaki Miyoshi and Zimbabwean Jamie Whyte.

They are also the first-ever set of competitors from Madagascar to win a round of FIA-sanctioned series since making their debut in the competition early last season.

“I am very excited and very happy to win my first-ever ARC race. The event was good and our car was also good despite minor mechanical problems,”  said the winner.His victory in one of the most famous rounds of the ARC series overshadowed the anticipated battle between Whyte and his compatriot Conrad Rautenbach, whose interest in the chase for the ARC title was the focal point of the competition.

Despite finishing fourth, Rautenbach still maintains the lead of the overall standings of the FIA series with Rwanda and Madagascar yet to host their events.Whyte’s second overall place has helped him to climb six points off Rautencbach’s tally. He is on course to win the third title in a row.      

“Being the first car on the road did not help us on the second day. It was just crazy and at times extremely dangerous to find big trucks on either sides of the road at high speeds. Amazingly we were still able to set superior stage times to finish second overall,’’ said Whyte’s navigator Phil Archenoul.

Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites