AAT chief executive officer Yusuf Ghor

Automobile Association of Tanzania, AAT, has cancelled the scheduled motor rally that was to be held in Dar es Salaam and Coast region on Sunday.

The major reason behind the cancellation of the third event in the AAT calendar for the unfolding season is rough route.

The section of the route between Yombo and Kiromo View Resort in Bagamoyo has been severely soaked by rain water to render it impassable.

Chairman of the organising committee Satindersingh Birdi said the section has left them without an alternative means except to call off the event.

Birdi declined to announce the date for staging the rally as it involves a combination of factors including logistics and avoidance of collision with another scheduled rally.

The AAT would announce the next date basing on available space in the seasonal calendar.

In excess of ten drivers had already confirmed to compete in the rally only to be frustrated by the eleventh hour cancellation.

AAT’s chief executive officer Yusuf Ghor said the cancellation is highly regretted but the reasons behind it are beyond control.

Ghor appealed for calm to all drivers who had thrown all their efforts to compete in the day long event.

The cancellation might have frustrated most of the drivers who intended to compete as all of their preparation efforts have been trashed.

Most of the upcountry drivers had skipped the event for various reasons.

Drivers from Tanga Motor Club declared not to feature in the event as they are gearing up for the Zig Zag rally to be held at their backyard at the end of next month.

The rally was to count for the national championship whose holder is Arusha Motor sports Club’s Armejeetsingh Dhillon.

Dhillon was ruled out of the rally due to sickness that has left him grounded to miss the two seasonal opener held in Dar es Salaam and Moshi in February and March respectively.

The Arusha driver had a unique rollercoaster 2010 motor rally season to seal off his maiden career national championship.

Dar es Salaam Motor Sports Club’s driver Randeep Birdi and Arusha’s Navraj Hans are jointly leading the pack of Tanzanian drivers in the race towards the national championship with 80 points apiece.

The duo has opened a 20-point barrier over second placed trio of Eric Cormarc, Arif Hadji and veteran Frank Taylor.

Randeep Birdi would rue his opportunity to extend the leading gap should he have successfully finished the event on high as Hans had ruled himself out after deciding not to compete.