As RAC calls of rally sprint

National Rally Championship
-Rally sprint (Feb)-called off
-Rallye du Nord (March) -called off
-Rally sprint (May 23) –called off
-Rallye de Huye - June   20-21
-Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally -September 18-20
-Rallye de l’Est - October 10
-Rallye des 1000 Collines - December 5-6

Local rally drivers and fans were left dejected yesterday after learning that the highly anticipated rally sprint had been called off.

The rally drivers, most of whom had already registered for the 200km sprint were alarmed with text messages from Salim Abdulgani, the Clerk of the Course (COC). According to Abdulgani, the roads are worse than initially thought.

"The condition of the roads is not good. Some areas are still water logged following recent rains so we can’t go on with the sprint,” he told Times Sport.

The twist has not gone down well with some of the country’s top drivers. "It’s frustrating but we still don’t know why it has been called off,” Olivier Costa said.

Rwanda Automobile Club (RAC) president has meanwhile expressed his regrets to the drivers and rally fraternity.

He said, "We regret the short-comings once again and hope that the next rally will go on as planned,” he said.

The sprint becomes the third event to be called off this year after March’s Rallye du Nord and a similar sprint back in February.

After this twist, drivers now have to turn their focus on the 24th Rallye de Huye slated for June 20-21.

Ends