All roads lead to Huye for Gakwaya memorial rally

TEN rally drivers are expected to roar their machines in the 24th edition of the Huye rally which gets underway this evening in Huye, Southern Province. The ‘Gakwaya Memorial rally’ is an annual race, organized to commemoration the late Gakwaya Snr. It also counts as the third round of the national rally calendar. The rally will be spiced up by a motorbike competition.

Saturday, September 25, 2010
Natioanal champion Giancarlo cruises his Subaru on a flooded road during a past event. He is one of nine local drivers who entered this weekendu2019s race in Huye. (File photo)

TEN rally drivers are expected to roar their machines in the 24th edition of the Huye rally which gets underway this evening in Huye, Southern Province.

The ‘Gakwaya Memorial rally’ is an annual race, organized to commemoration the late Gakwaya Snr. It also counts as the third round of the national rally calendar. The rally will be spiced up by a motorbike competition.

Rally organizer Christian Gakwaya expects a thrilling experience for motorsport and motorbike fans. "We expect a thrilling rally this year. We have brought in bikers to entice our fans and everyone should be in Huye to grace the event,” said Gakwaya.

According to Gakwaya, the motorbike competition will cover 108km.By press time, Burundi’s Valery Bukera was the only foreign driver who had confirmed his participation in the two-day event which will cover 273.39km in the competitive section.

The local surge is spearheaded by Fitidis Christakis, Mitraros Elefter, Gratien Rutabingwa, Olivier Costa, Claude Kwizera, Johhny Murengezi, Jeunesse and Feleken Mayaka and two-time national champion Davite Giancarlo.

Bikers, who will spice up the rally include; Masevelio Irene Basil (Honda shadow 400CC), Yaghya Mwangi (Honda 275 CC sports), Jean Marie Vanney Nsanzubukire (Yamaha 275cc sports), Siraji Garageman(Honda VT 250), Kabodee(Honda shadow 400cc), Joseph (Honda steed 400cc), Moses Issa (Honda shadow 750cc) and Gikeli (Honda VT 250cc).

This morning, drivers will compete in a ‘shake-down’ super stage which is a 2.40km. In the afternoon, they drive a competitive section covering143.80km cruising from Nyumba 1 to IRST 1(15.90km) and Rango 1 to Cathedrale 1(38.20km).

After refueling, they will again drive a 2.40km Super stage at Stade 2 then drive from Nyumba 2 to IRST 2(15.90km), proceed from Rango 2 to Cathedrale 2 (38.20km).

Residents of Gisagara will be kept busy as the drivers will take on from Cathedrale 3 to Gisagara 2, proceed from Giasagara 3 to Cathedrale 4 before winding up the day with an overnight 2.40km Super stage at Stade 4.

On Sunday, drivers will make a total of 141.3km driving from Nyakizu to Matyazo (52.50km), Rango to Cathedrale 5 (38.20km) before driving 4.80km from Stade B to Stade A
The Huye rally comes after the Bugesera sprint rally and KCB Mountain Gorilla.

Ends