Conrad in dilemma

Rally of Kenya in Nairobi.
The KCB Safari Rally of Kenya, which will be held during the weekend of June 17 to 19 in Nairobi, is the fourth leg of the eight-round 2011 FIA African Rally Championship series.
This tough event will be held a week before the Total Dealer Rally in the Gauteng Province of South Africa.
The Total Dealer Rally, which is slated for June 10 and 11, is the fourth round of the 2011 South African Rally Championship series in which Rautenbach is also competing.
Rautenbach is this year driving a G-Fuel ethanol-powered Ford Fiesta S2000 which has helped him to win four of the five international events he has competed in here in Zimbabwe and outside the country since the start of the 2011 motor rallying season in March.
And the talented 26-year-old Zimbabwean driver revealed yesterday that he was facing a problem regarding which car to use in Nairobi.
Rautenbach said he was not quite sure on which car he would be driving in the KCB Safari Rally of Kenya as it will be held a week just after the Total Dealer Rally in South Africa.
“Before travelling to Nairobi, I will first compete in the Total Dealer Rally in the Gauteng Province in South Africa and I think it will be very difficult for us to get the car to Kenya in time (for the KCB Safari Rally of Kenya).
“So, we are currently looking at a number of alternatives. I might take with me to Nairobi a Mitsubishi which belongs to Schalk Burger (Jnr) of South Africa.
“I’m also looking at using a Ford which is already there in Kenya. So we are still to find out on which car I will be exactly using in the KCB Safari Rally of Kenya,” Rautenbach said.
Rautenbach, who won the 2007 KCB Safari Rally of Kenya, has appended his entry on this year’s edition.
He will once again be navigated by Frenchman Nicolas Klinger whom he engaged at the beginning of this season.
The 26-year-old talented driver extended his lead in the 2011 FIA ARC Drivers’ Standings after winning the Zambia International Rally in Lusaka two weeks ago.
The Zambia International Rally was the third round of this year’s ARC series and Rautenbach beat fellow Zimbabwean Jamie Whyte into second place.
In Lusaka, Rautenbach powered his state-of-the-art G-Fuel Ford Fiesta S2000 to victory with a time of three minutes 10 seconds from countryman Whyte after timing 2:34:14.
Rautenbach dominated the 585.49km rally comprehensively from start to finish, winning 15 of the 17 stages that made up the rally that had eight finishers from 17 starters.
This was his third first podium finish in the ARC series after he won the Toyota Zimbabwe Challenge Rally in Harare in March and coming third in the Sasol Rally in Nelspruit, South Africa, in April.
Although he came third overall in the Sasol Rally, Rautenbach was classified first among the ARC-registered drivers at this event.
He followed this up by sweeping to victory in the Zambia International Rally on May 23 to confirm his status as one of the most feared rally drivers in the region.
Rautenbach, who aspires to wrestle the 2011 ARC Drivers’ title from compatriot Whyte, was in the 2009 World Rally Championship with the Citroen Junior Team using a C4.
Meanwhile, two drivers from Madagascar have entered the KCB Safari Rally of Kenya, an event billed as one of the toughest rallies in the world.
Jean Yves Ranarivelo will team up with compatriot Rila Ranaivomamnianina in a Subaru Impreza while Fredrick Rakatomanga will also be flying the Madagascan flag high in a similar car.
Other foreign entrants include reigning African champion Whyte from Zimbabwe eager to win his maiden KCB Safari Rally of Kenya.
Jas Mangat (Subaru N10) from Uganda, a regular participant in the Kenyan series, will be joining compatriots Ronald Sebuguzi (Subaru) and Ahmed Ashraf.
The leading local assault in Kenya has defending Kenyan National Rally Championship champion Alastair Cavenagh, Carl Tundo with two Safari scalps under his belt and Ian Duncan.
Meanwhile, at the same time, the “Haraka Mamas” team comprising Joan Nesbitt “Joni” and navigator Tamara K. Jones “Tami” are optimistic of a podium finish during the June 17 to 19 Safari Rally in the two-wheel drive category.
Having debuted the Formula Two class last year, the all-female crew – driven by the challenge of competition within themselves and against others – staunchly admit that racing is a completely new field for them and that they are not in their comfort zone.
Driver Joan explains that each time they reach a goal they end up setting a new goal; bearing in mind that satisfaction keeps them going on and on.
“So my husband Philip gave us our old blue Toyota Tercel and Tamara’s husband James Burke said he could build it and it started right there,” Joan revealed how they delved into the sport.