DISMAS Kayibanda is set to step down after 10 years in charge of Rwanda’s Automobile Club (RAC).

The RAC chief made the revelation recently ahead of next month’s 1000 Collines rally-the final round of the 2009 National Rally Championship.

To be precise, the elections were scheduled for early next year but Kayibanda insists that there is enough time after the 1000 Collines rally to hold the elections.

"The idea is to give the new executive ample time to settle in,” he said.

Kayibanda, who took over from Belgian Serge Evrard in 1999 insist that he will continue to be an active member of the club. He has also promised to help his successor through the transition.

He said: "I know that there are people out there who would carry on from where I have stopped and even take the sport to greater heights.”

"I think it’s time for them to get a chance.”
Under Kayibanda, Rwandan motorsport has reached new heights.

On top of pushing Rwanda’s Mountain Gorilla rally onto the FIA Africa Rally Championship (ARC), he was also pivotal in attracting huge sponsorship for the sport.

It a related development, the KCB Rwanda Mt. Gorilla rally will be the fourth round on the 2010 FIA Africa Rally Championship.

The rally, slated for June 04-06 will come after the Kobil Rally of Tanzania (February 19-21), KCB Safari Rally Kenya (April 02-04) and Pearl of Africa Uganda rally (April 30-May 02).

The six-round championship will crown off with the Zambia International rally (July 16-18) and Toyota Zimbabwe Challenge Rally (August 27-29).

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