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Rautenbach for FIA Motorsport awards in India

Sport
Zimbabwe’s motor racing sensation Conrad Rautenbach is in New Delhi, India, where he is expected to rub shoulders with some of the big names in the world of motorsport at the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) Motorsport Awards Gala on Friday. The awards gala, which has over the years been traditionally held in the French […]

Zimbabwe’s motor racing sensation Conrad Rautenbach is in New Delhi, India, where he is expected to rub shoulders with some of the big names in the world of motorsport at the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) Motorsport Awards Gala on Friday.

The awards gala, which has over the years been traditionally held in the French Principality of Monaco, has been switched to New Delhi.

The champions from Formula One and other FIA-certified events such as World Touring Car, World Rally Championship, FIA African Rally Championship (ARC)s, World Karting, Asia Pacific Rally, and Formula Two will all be officially presented with their titles at the awards gala.

Rautenbach (27) and his French co-driver Nicolas Klinger will also be officially crowned as the 2011 FIA African motor rally champions, to cap off a memorable season for the former, who also won the South Africa Rally Championship drivers’ title.

Formula One World Champion Sebastian Vettel along with Red Bull teammate Mark Webber and McLaren’s Jenson Button are also expected to be honoured at the event.

Zimbabwean motor rally drivers have become a regular feature at the awards gala, as Jamie Whyte and his co-driver Phil Archenoul attended the last two events in Monaco in 2009 and 2010 when they won consecutive African titles.

This will also not be the first time that Rautenbach been honoured at the global motorsport awards gala as he also attended the same event in 2007 when he lifted his maiden African Rally Championship.

The talented driver had a memorable season this year in which he made history by winning both the FIA ARC and the South African Rally Championship titles.

Behind the wheel of his Green Fuel ethanol-powered Ford Fiesta S2000, Rautenbach won the African title with two rounds to spare in the eight legged event ahead of fellow Zimbabwean and defending African champion Whyte.

Rautenbach finished on 105 points while Whyte, who had dominated the event for the past two years, was on 94 points.