Drivers to cover 200km in Sprint

Local drivers are set to cover a total distance of 200km in Saturday’s Rally Sprint, the opening round of the 2009 National Rally Championship. The sprint scheduled to take place in the districts of Kicukiro and Nyarugenge has four competitive sections covering 140km.

Thursday, May 21, 2009
COC: Salim Abdulgani (Center). RAC president Dismas Kayibanda congratulates two-time African champion Muna Singh back in 2007. (File photo)

Local drivers are set to cover a total distance of 200km in Saturday’s Rally Sprint, the opening round of the 2009 National Rally Championship.

The sprint scheduled to take place in the districts of Kicukiro and Nyarugenge has four competitive sections covering 140km.

Speaking of the rally route, Salim Abdulgani, the Clerk of Course (COC) predicted an exciting race.

"The roads are challenging so I’m predicting a very grueling sprint where drivers’ skills will face a stern test,” Abdulgani said.

The sprint will officially flag off this year’s national championship after Rwanda Automobile Club (RAC)’s decision to call off the first two rounds.

In February, a rally sprint was called off citing few entries while in March, the 15th edition of Rallye du Nord was rescinded at the last minute due to bad weather.

Other events programmed on this year’s championship include 24th Rallye de Huye (June 20-21), 8th Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally (September 18-20), 8th Rallye de l’Est (October 10) and the 27th edition of Rallye des 1000 Collines (December 5-6). Davite Giancarlo is the defending champion.

The Italian-born driver finally got his hands on the national title last year after spending six years in the shadows of Rudy Cantanhede (2007 & 2006), Elefter Mitraros (2005) and Tony Saegerman (2004) among others.

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