National champion predicts tough rally

DAVITE Giancarlo is to be flagged off in 12th position when the Kobil rally of Tanzania, also the first round of this year’s African Rally Championship (ARC) gets underway this afternoon with a special stage.

According to the provisional start list, the national rally champion co-driven by Sylvia Vindevogel in a Subaru Impreza N11 will set off in 12th place as he makes his mark on the continent.

Olivier Costa, the other Rwandan driver in the three-day rally will set off in 18th place.

Two-time African champion and a strong contender for this year’s title Muna Singh (Zambia) will be flagged off first as South Africa lady driver Lola Verlaque ‘Rally Chic’ in a VW S2000 and Uganda’s Emma Katto in a Subaru Impreza N14 follow closely in second and third.

Speaking ahead of yesterday’s special stage, Giancarlo said that the route was very challenging and that it would be a tough test for the drivers.

"The route is very challenging. The roads are rough and drivers have to be extra careful,” he told Times Sport in a brief phone interview.

About 25 drivers are competing in the rally but only eight of them are in contention for the ARC crown. These include Muna Singh, Lola Verlaque, Emma Katto, James Whyte (Zimbabwe), Peter Horsey (Kenya), Anwar Pandya (Kenya) and the Rwandan duo of Davite Giancarlo and Olivier Costa.

The event has a total of 594.63km of which 281.71km are spread over 13 competitive sections, eight on Saturday and five on Sunday.

Ends