TWENTY two drivers have confirmed participation in the KCB Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally which dusts off this Friday.

Top on the list is defending champion Jamie Whyte (Zimbabwe), 2008 African champion Conrad Rautenbach (Zimbabwe), last year’s winner Rudy Cantanhede, Kenya’s Jas Mangat, national champion Fitidis Christakis and his rival Davite Giancarlo.

Other drivers to watch out for include the Ugandan trio of Charlie Lubega, Charles Muhangi and Ponsiano Lwakatak and Valery Bukera and Alain Dethise from Burundi.

George Richard, Duncan Mubiru, Nasser Mutebi, Geoffrey Kiyaga, Edson Mugyereza, Wycliff Bukenya, John Murengezi, Mitraros Elefter, Claude Kwizera and Mayaka Felekeni, Madagascar’s Jean Yves and Ranaivamampianini Rila, who won in Tanzania and their compatriots Frederic Rakotomanga/Adam Yachine also make the list.

It will be all work and no play for drivers when the 600km race rolls off with a super special stage this Friday at Gahanga quarry.

With two races left in the eight-legged ARC series, the battle for the African title is between Rautenbach and Whyte.

Rautenbach (26) who finished fourth in last month’s Kobil Rally of Tanzania, enjoys an 11-point lead at the top of the ARC charts with 105 points. Whtye is second with 94 points.

The race also counts as a round on the national rally championship as well as the KCB East African Rally Challenge.

Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) are the official sponsors after renewing their $50,000 (aboutRwf30 million) sponsorship package this month.

Ends