RWANDA’S rally ace Davite Giancarlo is well aware of the tough battle expected when he rolls his Subaru Impreza in the fifth and penultimate round on this year’s African Rally Championship which kicked off yesterday with a super stage race.

He said yesterday, "I had a one day recce and I was actually tired. The roads are tough, very twisty, narrows and technical.”

"There are not many off roads excursions allowed but it will be a nice rally. I enjoyed the roads a lot. However, it is going to be a hard battle,” said Giancarlo, who is facing rival James Whyte from Zambia.

Ironically, both Whyte and Davite drive Subaru Imprezas just like the bulk of Zambian crews.

It is a routine appearance in Zambia for veteran Whyte, who finished third in last year’s Zambia International rally behind winner Muna Singh and runner-up Mohammed Essa.
Davite on the other hand will be making his Zambia International rally debut replicating his compatriot Olivier Costa who made a maiden campaign in the rally last year.

Apart from Muna and Essa, local entries expected to spice up the event include Abdalla Hamad, Ashish Patel, Azim Ticklay, Dani Beaini, Jassy Singh, Jimmy Dons, Joseph Felemenga, Ken Mukosa, and Paul Monge

The Zambia event was preceded by the Kobil Rally of Tanzania (February), KCB Safari Rally Kenya (April), KCB Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally and KCB Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally.

Whyte currently leads the ARC standings with 143 points, 44 points clear of Giancarlo in second place and a further 80 ahead of another Rwandan driver Fitidis Christakis in third place.

Ends