UNITY TEAM driver Johhny Murengezi will be relying on his Subaru Impreza N4 to achieve a victory when the 2014 National Rally Championship wheels off today with the Sprint de Rugende in Rwamagana.

The Sprint de Rugende is a 120km rally from Rweli, Gahengeri, Nzige to Muyumbu and will climax at Rugende, marking the beginning of a seven-round national rally season.

Murengezi, who won last year’s Sprint de Rugende, is eying a similar strong start to this campaign.

He said on Thursday, "It is going to be a tough season with different drivers all eying the national title. Nonetheless, Unity Team rally is ready for Sprint de Rugende but our success will depend on the condition of the car.”

Murengezi will face tough challenge from his rivals with better racing cars including; reigning national champion Davite Giancarlo, who has dominated the national championships for the past three seasons in his Subaru ‘Umuletti’ Impreza N11.

The other drivers expected to spice up the opening round of the season include; Claude Kwizera, Mayaka Felekeni, Claude Gakwaya, Janvier Mutuga, Ange Cyatangabo, Serge Sakumi, Genese Semana and Burundian Mohammed Abbas.

The second round, Rallye de l’Est, is due on March 22. The Rallye de Huye ‘Memorial Gakwaya’ will be held between June 7 and 8, while Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally is slated for July 18-20.

Rally Sprint, due on September 1, and Rallye du Nord, on October 18, are the fifth and sixth rounds in the championship, while Rallye des 1000 Collines will wind up the busy schedule.