•Costa drops out, Giancarlo steadily closing in

Rallye du Huye 2009
After stage four (Provisional results)

V. Bukera         1:17:31
D. Giancarlo     1:18:04
E. Mitraros       1:31:15
J. Murengezi     1:31:46
O. Costa            2:49:31
C. Fitidis           2:59:07

NATIONAL champion Davite Giancarlo signaled to Burundi’s Valery Bukera that he has to double his efforts if he is to defend his Rallye du Huye title.

With two stages left on Day one, Giancarlo navigated by Sylvia Vindevogel in a Subaru N11 had closed down the gap to 33 seconds after winning the third and fourth stages.

The Burundian, co-driven by Khetia Nital in a Subaru Impreza N10 won the opening two stages.

It was however a forgettable experience for Olivier Costa. Costa, one of the top contenders heading into the rally, which also counts as Rwanda’s oldest motorsport event dropped out after stage four due to mechanical problems.

He also had the worst of starts in the opening stage (Nyaziku-Matyazo 50km) when his Subaru suffered engine failure although he managed to get back in the race on that occasion.

Today, drivers open their quest with a 50km Nyaziku-Matyazo  stretch.  164.60km will be covered of which 103.90km is in competitive sections.

Rallye du Huye is the opening round on this year’s National Rally Championship.

Ends