Tomorrow

Super stage – Nyamata Ugandan drivers Desh Kananura and Jon Consta will prove who the better driver is when the Mt Gorilla rally gets underway tomorrow in Nyamata.

Kananura, who is competing at the annual African Rally Championship (ARC) event for the very first time, revealed that this weekend’s event on ‘neutral’ ground will settle their argument.

Kananura and Consta tied on day one of the Fort Portal rally three weeks ago, the fourth event of the National Rally Championship in Uganda before the former’s car got a puncture.

"We would have loved to settle our scores here. We have a time issue back home. I won’t get into the details of that. We wanted a neutral place where we are sure that the results will not be tampered with. That is why we wanted to settle it in Rwanda,” said the optimistic Kananura.  

He added that, "I am very confident that I will perform very well. Consta is a very, very fast driver. I believe he is equal or better than I am.”

Consta however told Times Sport that there is no score to settle as he is the better driver. "There is no rivalry between Desh and I. He has never beaten me. I think the level is drawn,” said Consta.

Both drivers did their first wrecking sessions yesterday and Kananura said, "We had double passes in all the stages. The twists, bends and drops, the roads are amazing. I am very overwhelmed by the bends and the hills.

I’ve always known Rwanda to be the land of a thousand hills but wow, some of the stages are breathtaking, I had to stop and stare at the beauty of Rwanda. It is beautiful.”

Consta, who was also wowed by the scenery, revealed that winning the Mt Gorilla rally is his main target despite being aware of the tough competition presented by Africa’s top drivers. He said, "I like the route and I think I will do well. I want to win. I expected the terrain to be like this.”

The reigning African champion Jassy Singh, ARC table leader Jaspreet Chatte, record three-time winner of the Mt Gorilla rally Rudy Cantanhede as well as home favourite and two-time champion Davite Giancarlo will all be fighting for top honours.

Meanwhile, Ugandan driver Duncan ‘Kikankane’ Mubiru who finished third at last year’s event has pulled out of this weekend’s event.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw