FORMER national rally champion Rudy Cantanhede is poised for a grand comeback in next month’s Irushanwa – Rallye des 1000 Collines. The two-time champion shocked everyone when he decided to relocate to Belgium mid this year.

At the time, he was at the top of the championship table with 140 points after podium finishes in Rallye du Nord and Rwanda Mountain Gorilla rally.

However, three months down the road, Cantanhede is in contention to win the 400km event which he won last year en route picking up his second championship title.

With a coefficient of four, the Irushanwa – Rallye des 1000 Collines rally is only second to the famed Rwanda Mountain Gorilla rally which until this year was a regular event on the African Rally Championship.

Cantanhede, who sold off his powerful yellow Subaru Impreza to new champion Davite Giancarlo, is expected to race in a similar car.

"Rudy is back and will drive a Subaru Impreza STI N8,” the rally coordinator Olivier Costa told Times Sport yesterday.

Irushanwa – Rallye des 1000 Collines has meanwhile received a new face lift after attracting immense sponsorship.

According to Costa, the event that runs from December 5-7 will also have a new racing formula where drivers will race in teams.

"This is unique in Africa. The main sponsors will be allocated a team of three cars. After every stage, team scores will be tallied and the team with most points at the end of the day will lift the Irushanwa trophy,” Costa added.

Over 25 rally cars from Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Burundi and Belgium are expected to grace the three-day event, which also counts for the seventh and final event on the national championship.

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