Rwanda Rally National Championship title race leader Jean-Claude Gakwaya is doubtful for the season-ending Rallye des 1000 Collines that will be held on December 15-16 in Nyamata, Bugesera District.

"I don’t know if I will make it because my car has engine problems. I have to replace the engine… I have placed an order for a new one but it takes about three months. I don’t know for sure but I am trying to get a way to replace it,” Gakwaya told Saturday Sport.

Gakwaya’s Blue Subaru Impreza’s engine broke during the Huye Rally held two months ago. Gakwaya leads the race for the Rwanda National Championship with 67 points, 31 points ahead of his closest challenger, Christophe Nizette.

Others are Fabrice Nyiridandi with 23 points in third place, Christian Kanangire with 13 points, Genese Semana with six points while Fergadiotis Tassos Gakuba and Alain Murenzi are bottom with three points each, respectively.

Gakwaya noted that he’s considering the possibility of competing using a different car in case his Subaru Impreza is not ready for the race. The annual two-day event will be held on the roads of Nyamata, Gako Nyagihunika, Kamabuye and Rilima, covering a total distance of 168.22km.

"I am still doing all I can to be part of the race, I want to be crowned the champion of Rwanda after racing in the final race of the season, I am trying to see if can get a smaller car to start the race,” Gakwaya noted.

The National Championship started with the Gorilla in the Mist rally in Uganda (March 3-5), followed by the Sprint Rally held in Nyamata (May 20), Uganda Pearl of Africa Rally (June, 30-July 2), Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally (September 8-9) while the most recent was the Huye Rally held last month.

Fans will have one view point in Nyamata and will be able to watch the cars six times. Ugandan Pole Pole Wilbert and Bashir Mbogo–Mitsubishi Evolution VI (Kajala Rally Team) are defending champions.

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