Tanzanian based international rally co-driver Moses Matovu experienced a fraught start to his 2010 FIA African Rally Championship season when he and driver Jas Mangat retired their Subaru Impreza N12B from a podium position with overheating issues.
The pair, who were teamed up for the first time on the Kobil Rally of Tanzania, experienced handling issues on the first full day of rallying and ended the leg in fourth position, a mere eight seconds off the podium. However overnight adjustments to their car, running on a 33mm restrictor for the first time, transformed the handling and the pair were back on the pace on Sunday morning.
A pair of second fastest times elevated Mangat and Matovu into third overall but the rough nature of the stages took their course when the radiator was damaged and they were forced out of the event within sight of the finish!
Moses: This is the second rally in two weeks that I have retired from whilst holding onto a podium position! Our pace on Sunday was brilliant and Jas and I had a good time until the radiator was damaged! I am now looking forward to continuing my training with Peter ahead of our WRC debut!
Moses now heads off to the UK to begin preparations for his World Rally Championship debut alongside Peter Horsey. After an intensive training session in Scotland Matovu will return to Uganda to compete alongside rallying legend Emmanuel Katto for the opening round of the Ugandan Rally Championship!
Photo courtesy of Viren Shah
