It will be a heated contest between thirteen crews – from three regional countries – when the 2019 Rally de Huye gets underway on Saturday.

The represented countries include the hosts Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi.

The race, held over two days in Huye and Gisagara districts, is organised in memory of late Jean Claude Gakwaya who died in a motor accident in 1986.

To date, he is still widely regarded as one of the best rally drivers that country has ever produced.

Uganda’s Musa Kabega, navigated by Rogers Sirwomu, in their Mitsubishi EVO 9, are two-time reigning winners of the race, having claimed it in 2017 and last year.

Kabega edged Jonas Kansiime, a fellow Ugandan, by 35 seconds to win the title last year, while Rwanda’s Jean Jean Giesen settled for the third position.

At this year’s edition, Rwanda has the biggest representation with six crews, followed by Burundi with five while Uganda has two crews.

The drivers will be battling it out on a total 330km over the two days, Saturday and Sunday, of the annual event.

editor@newtimesrwanda.com