Less than 72 hours to the grand Irushanwa- Rallye des 1000 Collines, there is still looming doubt about the participation of some of the region’s top drivers.

According to the rally website, the Kenyan trio of Carl Thundo (former Kenyan champion), Alfir Khan and Azhar Anwar and Uganda’s rally maestro Riyaz Kurji are yet to confirm.

Azhar Anwar is fresh from a third spot finish in the ‘Guru Nanak rally’, the last round on the Kenya rally championship.

Meanwhile, the number of local drivers lined up for the three-day event has shot up to nine. Felekeni and Kazungu are the latest drivers to join the competitors’ list.

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

Irushanwa - Rallye des 1000 Collines, the seventh and final event on the national championship calendar has meanwhile received a new face lift.

According to Olivier Costa, the event that runs from December 5-7 will 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.

Last year, Rudy Cantanhede, driving a Subaru Impreza won the rally. Three months after relocating to his native country (Belgium), Rwanda Automobile Club (RAC) last Friday confirmed that the rally ace is poised for a grand comeback.

Before his departure, Cantanhede who won successive national championship titles in 2006 and 2007 was at the helm of the championship with 140 points after podium finishes in Rallye du Nord and Rwanda Mountain Gorilla rally.

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