Davite Giancarlo targets African rally crown

LOCAL rally driver Davite Giancarlo has set his sight on this year’s Africa Rally Championship (ARC) crown as he begin his quest for continental glory with Toyota Zimbabwe Challenge Rally next week.Giancarlo told Times Sport yesterday, “My target is to win the Africa rally championship this year. I am ready and the vehicle (Subaru Impreza) is also in good condition,”“It is not always an easy go through. They are a lot of hurdles in this championship but i will give it a try and am optimistic for the challenge ahead,” added Giancarlo.Giancarlo’s team and vehicle starts the tough journey by road to Zimbabwe this Thursday and he will leave on Monday for the race which starts on next Friday.The Italian born rally ace will also compete in other competitions like the national championship and the East African rally challenge respectively.South Africa’s Schalk Burger (Jnr), Giancarlo Davite and the Zambian duo of Muna Singh and Mohammed Essa were the only foreign drivers who took part in last year’s event which was won by Zimbabwe’s motor rallying hotshot Conrad Rautenbach. Giancarlo came third in Toyota Zimbabwe Challenge Rally behind Zimbabwean James Whyte who finished in second spot.Rautenbach will not be back to defend his Toyota Zimbabwe Challenge Rally title this year as he has taken a one-year sabbatical from motor rallying.This is likely to pave the way for former local champion Jamie Whyte to regain the title he lost to Rautenbach during last year’s event.The Toyota Zimbabwe Challenge Rally, the country’s premier motorsport event is this year’s opening round of the eight-legged 2012 FIA African Rally Championship series.Apart from Giancarlo, Jas Mangat of Uganda (Subaru Impreza) and Mohammed Essa from Zambia (Subaru Impreza) are the other foreigners registered for the rally.

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Davite Giancarlo targets African rally crown