Zambia’s Ismail Shermohamed entered the rally records as the first Two-Wheel drive Africa rally champion.
Shermohamed ended his ARC campaign with a category win and a fifth overall position in the ARC finale; the Pearl of Africa rally that took place over the weekend in Mubende.
“Taking on this championship has been a great exposure as well as an exciting thing for me. We are really happy to have emerged champions,” he said.
The fact that the ARC 2WD title was unknown, Shermohamed had to compete against no one this year after Kenya’s Lee Rose could not continue with the championship after dropping out in South Africa.
“I also didn’t know about the title, but sometime last year I was going through the FIA rules and landed on the 2WD title.”
“After critical analysis of the rules and the fact that I love traveling I made up my mind to take on the championship,” says shermohamed.
Of the six season’s ARC events, he has participated in four; South Africa, Zambia, Rwanda and Uganda.
However, Uganda has been the most exciting event he has done ever.
“Each event created a new memory for me. South Africa had fast stages, very fast cars and Rwanda was more of the same with fast routes and my car came back just in shape.”
“Uganda was totally different, it was a mix of very rough and smooth routes. The 2WD battle was so exciting as well and I managed to beat all of them hands down.”
“For the fan base, Uganda still wins. Have not seen such a fan base anywhere else and they kept cheering us throughout the event,” said Shermohamed.
The Zambian hinted on doing the same championship next year.
“I will try and reconsider coming back next year, have really enjoyed myself meeting different people, new culture , new competition. So it would be a bad idea coming back,” he asserted.
Shermohamed was navigated by two co-drivers; Vihir Patel and Pierra Jordan.
About Ismail Shermohamed
•He started motor rallying last year in April in a standard car.
•Pearl rally was his 11th rally.
•He cruised a Toyato Runx and later a Ford Fiesta R2 for the ARC season.
•Competes in the Zambia rally championship(2WD)
•A Tanzania born based in South Africa and races in Zambia.