Pandya: I’m confident of winning motor rally

Dar es Salaam. Famous driver Dharam Pandya has not lost hope of clinching this year’s National Rally Championship (NRC) title despite his rival Gerald Miller, of Arusha, having more points.

Pandya is now second after collecting 70 points while Miller is leading with 83 points. Pandya is also sponsored by Toyota Tanzania.

Pandya, who is under sponsorship of Puma Energy Tanzania, collected 10 points in the recently Automobile Association of Tanzania while Miller scored 15 points.

The former Tanzania champion said technical faults and a new car were a hindrance to his performance.

According to him, he is still learning and believes he will make it in the next rally to be organised by Dar es Salaam Motor Sport Club next month.

“I expected to close the gap of eight points, but technical faults caused me to lose points while Miller widened the gap. We still have two series before NRC climaxes. I am sure to do well and win for the third time. Currently I am preparing my car, it is new. I have to change the suspension system and do overall maintenance before the next race,” said Pandya.

Pandya said it was too early to say Miller would win. “It is almost a two-horse race, although other drivers can overshadow us if we fail to make it in the final two series. Samir Nahdi is third with 52 points as well as Randeep Singh is fourth with 43 points.”

Gurpal Sandhu and Ahmed Huwel are in fifth position with 41 points each and are followed by Ahmed Huwel (41 points), Harinder Deere (28), Naeem Daudi (20), Shane Abbas Fazal (20) and Hassan Ramzan with 16 points.

Also on the list are Davis Mosha (14), Jayant Shah (12), Preetam Gandamal (8), Yusuf Zavery (8), Lazarus Horn (6), Hussein Suleiman (6) Issack Taylor (4), Harjeet Singh (4), Hamid Mbatta 2) and Frank Taylor (1).

Former champion Jamil Khan is on the list of drivers who have not collected any point. Others are Jamil Shabhi, Binesh Haria, Cyprian Mwaimu, Lucas Mwanga, Kelvin Taylor, Nadeem Daud, Akida Juma, Bob Taylor, Aliasgar Fazal, Naeel Asher, Gurjit Dhani, Erfan Aladin, Rajpal Dhani, Ajminder Dhani and Salim Haji.

The Rally of Tanzania is an international rally racing event organised by the Automobile Association of Tanzania. The rally is based in the port city of Dar es Salaam and travels south-west to Pugu hills for its competition stages. The event is a round of the African Rally Championship and the Tanzania National Rally Championship.