DEFENDING champion, Davite Giancarlo, will not compete in the third round of the National Rally Championship (Huye Rally) which rolls off this afternoon in Huye District, Southern Province.

 "I had an eye surgery recently and I will not be part of the Huye rally. Hopefully, I will be around for the next round if everything goes well,” speaking to Saturday Sport yesterday, Davite said.

Also out is Felekani Mayaka, who says his car is not in good mechanical condition.

With the pair out, this will be an opportunity for Burundian Valéry Bukera and Rwandan duo of Claude Kwizera and Johnny Murengezi to battle for points in a bid to go top of the national rally championship rankings.

A win for one of these drivers would help him to hit the summit which is currently held by Davite with 32 points, two points ahead of Bukera while Kwizera and Murengezi stand in third and fourth position with 27 and 25 points respectively.

The rally, which will be in its 28th edition, is expected to attract 13 crews; nine from Rwanda and four from Burundi.

Huye Rally is the third on the national calendar following the Sprint rally held in February and Mt. Gorilla Rally in July.

The two-day rally will cover a total distance of 270km in Huye and Gisagara respectively.  Cars will be flagged off today at 1pm in Huye and drivers will traverse twice from Save, Rwanza, Rwasave, and Cathedrale for a 10km distance.

They will also drive twice from Save, Musha, Mukande, Gisagara and Cathedrale for a total distance of 32km to complete day one.

On Sunday, they will drive a distance of 13km over four times from Rango, Save, Rwanza, Rwasave and Cathedrale before winding up with a Power Stage near Stade Huye.

Full entry list:

Valery Bukera and Khetia Nital in a Subaru N10, Claude Kwizera and Gilbert Rugomwa in a Subaru Impreza N12, Johnny Murengezi and Eric Nzamwita in Subaru Impreza GC8, Mitraros Elefter and Paolo Paganni in Subaru Impreza N10, Abbas Mohammed and Petros Tissarchontos in Subaru Impreza N10, and Claude Gakwaya and Claude Mugabo in Subaru Impreza N10.

Others are: Saidi Twizeyimana and Emmanuel Kubwimana in Toyota Celica, Francois Cyatangabo and Herga Ntirushwa in VW Golf GTI, Jean Jacque Ntwari and Dias Maceri in Toyota Celica, Janvier Mutuga and Jules Uwimana in Toyota Corolla, Karmal Alif and Armand Nzabarinda in Subaru GCS, Victor Nshuti and Anne Rwigara in Toyota Corolla, Gratien Rutabingwa and Fabrice Yoto in Peugeot 205GTI, Semana Genesse in Peogeot 205GTI.

NRC Standing

Davite Giancarlo (Rwa)     32

Valéry Bukera (Bur)    30

Claude Kwizera (Rwa)   27

Johnny Murengezi (Rwa)  25

Abbas Mohamed (Bur)     24

Mitralos Elefter (Rwa)    20

Claude Gakwaya (Rwa)   19

Francois Cyatangabo (Rwa)     19

Mayaka Felekeni (Rwa)   17

Victor Nshuti (Rwa)   4

Janvier Mutuga (Rwa)   2