By SANDRA MWILA –

EXCITING rally driver Miles Monge says the battle of the Zambia Motor Sport Association (ZMSA) 2015 national rally championship is still on with only two legs remaining on the calendar.
Monge, however, faces an uphill battle to overtake reigning national champion Jassy Singh and his brother Muna Junior who are tied top of the drivers standing on 100 points.
In third place is Leroy Gomes on 74 points followed by Farook Ticklay and Vyon Pinto on 68 and 66 points respectively while Monge is sixth 65 points.
Monge said at a press briefing at the Lusaka Motor Club yesterday ahead of this weekend Samfuel rally in Kitwe and Ndola that all the drivers are geared for the maximum points and predicated tough competition.
“The battle of the championship is still on and all drivers are geared in making the competition even tougher especially that there will be night racing for the spectators. At this stage, we can’t determine who will win because anything can happen,” he said.
Muna Junior said he was ready and geared to race in his newly acquired Subaru R4 adding that, focus is to win the rally to enhance his chances of landing the national title.
“My service crew has worked on my new car and I am ready for the Samfuel rally but I expect tough competition especially from brother who will be also eyeing maximum points to take over sole leadership having missed the last leg,” he said.
Muna ditched his Subaru Impreza N10 last month but has maintained his loyalty to the Subaru family by acquiring a new R4.
Another driver, Kelvin Mhanga, who is 12th on the log and will be using his newly acquired Toyota S2000, said the top drivers should watch out for him because his new car will do wonders during the rally.
“I am excited that we are having a night rally, it will be a good experience and all drivers should watch out because I am coming in with a new car,” he said.
Jassy’s navigator Sajid Khan said the rally will be a challenge because they will be using Muna Junior’s Subaru Impreza N10.
“Jassy is ready for the rally but it will be a bit of a challenge because he will be back to a standard gear box and the car is not his and he might not be too familiar,” Khan said.
Meanwhile, Prowatch came on board to sponsor tracking devices for all 30 cars that will be competing in the rally at a cost of K60, 000 while, Gomes Haulage will dish out K15, 000 for prizes for the various winners.
The rally revs off on October 24 with spectacular night stages happening for the first time slated on Independence Day at the Ndola Motor Club (NMC) and at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.
On Sunday the main event moves to Kitwe where competing teams will go neck to neck as they tackle the terrains of the Mindolo Dam’s stages.