National rally champion Davite Giancarlo has shipped his favourite Subaru Impreza N12 ‘Umuletti’ to Abidjan ahead of the 2014 first leg of the Africa Rally Championship, the Rallye Bandama in Côte D’Ivoire, set for March 14-16.

Giancarlo told Times Sport yesterday: "The car is aboard Ethiopian Airways cargo plane en route to Abidjan. But it will arrive mid next week because it will have stops in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) and Lome (Togo).

"This operation has been possible with support from the forwarding company Bollore Africa Logistics as well as Cogebanque,” he added.

"It is good to have a company that fully understands the challenge of this championship and the importance of supporting us in our bid to win the Africa rally title this year,” he noted.  

"I want to reiterate my pledge to them and to all Rwandans that I will do everything possible to bring the ARC title home; all I can say is we are ready for the battle,” added Giancarlo.

He will spend $10,000 (about Rwf.6.7 million) on his first trip to Abidjan in the African Rally Championship.

After lifting the 120km Sprint de Rugende in Rwamagana a fortnight ago, the Rwandan Italian born driver has now set his eyes on the Rallye Bandama in Côte D’Ivoire.

In Abidjan, Giancarlo will be hoping to hit the podium after he withdrew last year due to mechanical problems.

Last year, the Rwandan champion failed to make it to the podium after his Mitsubishi Evo X suffered an engine problem 90m to the finish line.

He experienced the same problem again, in the Sasol, South Africa rally but recovered to finish second in Zambia international rally.

Subsequently he finished second runners-up with 58 points, 48 points behind Singh who become the youngest ever FIA African Rally Champion at only 20 years of age.