Horsey and Matovu Rwanda summary

Horsey and Matovu clinch Pirelli Star Drive in Rwanda

26 year old Kenyan Peter Horsey and his highly respected Ugandan co-driver Moses Matovu scooped one of the top prizes in rallying when the pair won the 2009 African Pirelli Star Drive Award during the Mountain Gorilla Rally in Rwanda last weekend, finishing second overall in the rally as well!

Matovu, who has stood on the podium in Rwanda three times in the past, was enlisted by the young Kenyan due to his experience of competing at the highest level of African rallying. And this experience paid dividends during the 3 day long rally. The pair, driving a Mitsubishi Evo 9, led from the very first stage, building a lead of over three minute by the end of Saturday.

They then made a tactical decision to drop time on Sunday morning in order to run further down the field on the final day. This was to safeguard their event as the KCB Mountain gorilla Rally is an 'open road' event which means that public vehicles are often encountered on the stages. The pair continued to hold their overall lead on the rally until they picked up a puncture whilst passing a competitor during the final 55 kilometre long stage. Despite a rapid tyre change Horsey and Matovu dropped back to second overall, but were still top Pirelli star crew back into Kigali.

The panel was made up of experts from the African Continent including Ian Duncan, former Safari Rally winner, Surinder Thatthi (member of FIA World Council), Muna Singh of Zambia (former African Champion), Richard Leeke of South African and Ralph Stead of Zimbabwe.

Peter Horsey "This is the biggest thing in my life. I came here wanting to win and I have achieved it with great support from my mum, dad and the service crew. I want to use this as a springboard into the World Rally Championship,''

Moses Matovu "All year long I have watched Peter develop. And he was definitely at his finest this weekend! We work really well as a team and I'm looking forward to putting this into practice in the world championship next year!

Peter and Moses will contest six rounds of the 2009 FIA World Rally Championship in a works runs Group N or Super 2000 car. Horsey will be joined by four other drivers in the 2010 Pirelli Star Driver programme. It will be the second season of the Pirelli-sponsored series designed to offer young drivers from around the world the opportunity to compete at the highest level of world rallying.

-credit: h&m