2017 NRC standings:

1. Jean Claude Gakwaya 67 points2. Fabrice Nyiridandi 423. Christophe Nizette 364. Christian Kanangire 135. Genese Semana 66. Fergadiotis Tassos Gakuba 37. Alain Murenzi 3

National Rally Championship title contender Fabrice ‘Yoto’ Nyiridandi is targeting to win this weekend’s Rallye des Mille Collines in Bugesera district, which will help him pip Jean Claude Gakwaya to the national title.

Yoto, navigated by Regis Remera in a Toyota Celica, goes into the last race on the NRC calendar, in second place with 42 points, 25 points behind Gakwaya, who will not be part of the race after his Subaru Impreza developed engine problems during the Huye Rally in October.

Victory on Saturday, will give Yoto 25 points, which is enough to make him Rwanda’s national rally champions for the first time – both drivers will be level on 67 points but Yoto will take the day due to Gakwaya’s absence from the race that has attracted nine cars.

This is after Ugandan Gilberto Balondemo and Hamza Lwanga in Toyota Corolla, pulled out of the event despite registering earlier.

"We are going to try to reduce the gap between us and Gakwaya and see if we can win the championship, we will need to work hard but be careful not to crash out,” the ABG Rally Team driver Yoto, said.

Initially, Yoto was listed as being in third position with 23 points until Rwanda Auto Club (RAC) realised they had made a mistake by not considering the Gorillas in the Mist Rally -Kabale (March 3-5) in which he participated and scored 19 points.

Christophe Nizette is in third place with 36 points, Christian Kanangire follows with 13 points, Genese Semana comes next with six points while Fergadiot is Tassos Gakuba and Alain Murenzi are bottom with three points each, respectively.

The nine crews that will battle in the final race of the season include six Rwandans, one Ugandan and two Burundians. The race will go through Nyagihunika, Kamabuye and Rilima with sections 3, 4 and 5 covering a total distance of 150km.

Uganda’s Pole Pole Wilbert and Bashir Mbogo – Mitsubishi Evolution VI (Kajala Rally Team) are defending champions. He, however; did not register to defend his title.

Confirmed drivers1. Nyiridandi Fabrice/Remera Regis (Toyota Celica, Rwa)2. Gakwaya Eric (Subaru, Rwa)3. Rusagara Serge/Mujiji (Subaru, Rwa)4. Fergadiotis Gakuba Tassos/Kayitankole Lionel (Toyota Corolla, Rwa)5. Remezo Christian/Gahuragiza Jean Marie (Toyota Celica, Bur)6. Giesen Jean Jean/Dewalque Yannick (Toyota Celica, Rwa)7. Semana Genese/ Hakizimana Jacques (Peugeot, Rwa)8. Din Imitiaz/ Uwimana Jules (Toyota Avensis, Bur)9. Mukaza Yasin/Serwanga Jackson (Toyota Levin, Uga)

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