Phil Archenoul hangs up his maps

back in 1985, has retire.
Whyte broke this sad news yesterday.
“Archie has retired. He will no longer be navigating and he’s getting into officiating. In fact, he will be coming in as a steward although he has indicated that he might help me out during this year’s Toyota Zimbabwe Challenge Rally but he’s not doing it any more,” Whyte said.
Archenoul’s decision to quit the sport might also force Whyte to “reconsider his position” as the veteran driver indicated that he is likely to miss this year’s FIA African Rally Championship series – an event which they both won twice in a row in 2009 and 2010.
“I don’t think I’ll be competing in Africa this year. Besides Archie’s decision to retire as a navigator, the other thing that might force me from competing in the ARC series this year is money.
“I’m currently weighing up my options but financial constraints is the problem because it’s very expensive to compete in the ARC series,” said Whyte, who added that he would make his final decision next week.
And judging from the tone of his voice yesterday, this might also signal the end of Whyte’s career as a motor rallying driver.
But it is the retirement of Archenoul, which is likely to leave the sport of motor rallying poorer in Zimbabwe.
Archenoul (55) started rallying in 1985 but he teamed-up with Whyte in 1994.
The two were soon to become a formidable force in the local and African motor rallying scene where they virtually won everything in their 16-year partnership, including the FIA ARC Drivers’ and Co-drivers’ titles in 2009 and 2010. This also saw Whyte (50) and Archenoul making history, as they became the first Zimbabweans to win back-to-back African Rally Championship titles.
In fact in 2010, Whyte, who was ably assisted by Archenoul, capped a perfect season at home when he defended his African motor rally title and winning the Toyota Zimbabwe Challenge Rally for the first time in 15 years.
The year 2010 was also a perfect year for Archenoul who was winning the event for the first time after 25 years of trying.
Archenoul has since handed the “navigating baton” to his son Craig who is now co-piloting for Whyte’s son Rowan.
Meanwhile, sources in the local motor rallying family recently told The Herald that talented young driver Conrad Rautenbach is unlikely to return to South Africa this year to defend his South African Rally Championship title.
Rautenbach is reported to be “reluctant” to compete in South Africa this year as he was not amused by the way he was treated by the organisers of the South African Rally Championship on his way to winning the overall drivers’ title last year.
The 27-year-old Zimbabwean driver was declared the 2011 South African Rally Drivers’ Champion following protracted appeals against the running of the fourth round of the series – the Toyota Gauteng Rally in June – which saw widespread short-cutting.
Rautenbach was officially crowned as the 2011 champion in November last year after a Motorsport South Africa Court of Appeal declared the rally null and void.
The outcome saw Rautenbach being elevated to the top of the points standings, 15 clear of his main rival Mark Cronje of South Africa, who won the Gauteng Rally in June.
But sources said Rautenbach was not happy with the way the South African motor rallying authorities handled the whole issue and chances are that he might not be returning to that country to defend his title this year.
When contacted recently, Rautenbach could neither deny not confirm that he will not be taking part in the South African Rally Championship series this year, saying he will issue a statement at the appropriate time.
“No decision has been made yet and once I meet with my team, we will come up with a position and then I will let you know,” Rautenbach said last week.
He is now understood to be looking at competing in next January’s tough Dakar Rally in South America.