South Africa’s Japie Van Niekerk was dominant throughout as he registered a two-fold victory; ARC category and York rally win.The Ford Fiesta driver covered the 205.31kilometre distance in 2hrs, 24minutes and 24seconds to register his career best finish in rally of South Africa(ARC).
Niekerk collected 25 maximum points to tie with Kenya’s Carlo Tundo in third place of the ARC standings.
Guy Botterill settled for second; six minutes and forty-one seconds behind Niekerk while AC??? Potgieter sealed the podium in third.
Kenya’s Jaspreet Chatthe took the ARC lead despite finishing tenth overall.
The 2015 ARC champion was initially lying second before an off in stage 13 pushed him to tenth.
“We over shot a corner and landed by the cliff but tried hard and managed to get off big rocks and get to the end. Overall it was good experience since we were driving at a good pace,” he told Kawowo Sports.
Chatthe and his navigator Gurdeep who Panesar finished fourth on the ARC list. The Kibos crew now takes the lead with 30 points after three event.
Zambia’s racing couple Leroy and Urshlla Gomes are now second in the ARC standings with 26 points after finishing fourth overall and second on ARC.
Kleevan Gomes finished third on ARC to complete the ARC top five with 19points followed by Manvir Baryan.
The next ARC round is scheduled for June 30-2nd July in Uganda.
ARC Standings after Round Three
1. Jaspreet Chatthe/Gurdeep Panesar 30 points
2. Leroy Gomes/Urshlla Gomes 26 points
3. Jap Van Niekerk/ Roben Houghton 25 points
4. Carlo Tundo/Tim Jessop 25 points
5. Kleevan Gomes 19 points
6. Manvir Baryan/Drew Sturtock 15 points
7. Valery Bukera/Nital Khetia 12 points
8. Muna Singh/Zunaid Khan 10 points
9. Piero Cannobio/Thabith Khandwala 6 points
10. Natasha Tundo/Chantal Young 2 points