Rudy awakening

CONSISTENCY is the best description for Rudy Cantanhede after his latest heroics in the Irushanwa-Rallye des 1000 collines, the final round on this year’s national championship. Racing in arguably one of the most colourful and competitive rally in Rwanda’s rally history, the Belgian, navigated by his younger brother Bruno Cantanhede in a Subaru Impreza beat Burundi’s Valery Bukera. By press time, the drivers’ overall time was still being tallied. Apart from stage14; the shortest competitive section (10.60km) from Gahanga to Carriere where the two-time national champion finished 8th after clocking eight minutes and 56 seconds, Cantanhede kept in the top five in all the other stages giving no chance to his key rival Bukera of team Mille Collines. With Davite Giancarlo dropping out in the 17th stage, Burundi’s Bukera kept his cool to finish second while Tony Saegerman rounded off the top three slots. Giancarlo, who was already crowned national champion and a key contestant for the race dropped out after breaking his fuel pipe. It was total disappointment for the Italian who seemed to be cruising to a fourth podium finish in the championship. Despite competing in the super rally format after bowing out with mechanical gremlins on Saturday, Uganda’s Jas Mangat in a Subaru N12 showed why he is one of the region’s top drivers when he recorded the fastest time in the 13th and 15th stage. He also finished inside the top three in the 11th, 14th and 16th stage. Meanwhile, Fina Bank claimed the team category (Irushanwa) while Quickauto and Kobil finished second and third respectively. Ends

Lifestyle

Rudy awakening