RWANDA’s pair of Davite Giancarlo and Christikas Fitidis is in Dar es Salaam fine-tuning their speed machines ahead of this weekend’s Kobil Rally of Tanzania (February 19-21).

Giancarlo told Times Sport on Tuesday after arriving in Dar es Salaam that he will use the remaining days reccing through the route.

Giancarlo, who will be driving a Subaru Impreza N4, will be navigated by Sylvia Vindevogel while Fitidis, in a similar car will be navigated by Dekelver Guy.

Olivier Costa, who came fourth in last year’s ARC after collecting 19.5 points, will not take part in the competition.
Elefterios Mitraros and Zambian rally ace Mohammed Essa have also pulled out of the rally according to rally steward Dismas Kayibanda.

Essa, who was set to arrive in Tanzania on Monday with his Zimbabwean navigator Greg Stead, said that his engine blew up from excessive air intake.

Essa’s withdrawal leaves Zambia with no ambassador in the event, after 2004-5 Africa Rally champion Muna Singh failed to show up citing financial constraints.

The 674.35-kilometre race is the opening fixture on the 2010 International Automobile Federation (FIA) Africa Rally Championship (ARC) calendar.

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