Five foreigner drivers have confirmed their participation in this year’s Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally set for May 30-June 2 in Kigali.

The drivers confirmed include; Belgium pair of Marc Verdin and Baugnee, Uganda’s Jas Mangat, Burundi’s Valéry Bukera and Alain Dethise.

Among the confirmed drivers; Mangat is the only driver who has participated in the last two rounds of this year’s Africa Rally Championship (ARC).

Mangat is ranked 4th with eight points obtained from Tanzania rally where he finished second but was disqualified at home during the Uganda Pearl rally for getting outside assistance.

The local automobile body (RAC) has confirmed the development and said that Rwanda Gorilla Rally points will only count for the national championship after it was canceled off the ARC ladder for this year due to lack of sponsorship.

Christian Gakwaya, a RAC member told Times Sport over the weekend, that they are expecting to have between 15 and 20 cars in this year’s event which, unlike in the past, has attracted some of the top drivers on the continent who descend on Rwandan hills in search for ARC points.

"At the moment, five foreign drivers have confirmed their participation but we are expecting many more to register before the end of this week or early next week,” Gakwaya said.

According to RAC, participants will not be awarded points just like in the African Championship but points will go to local drivers since it’s a national calendar event.

This year’s event is expected to be officially opened at La Palisse Nyadungu on May 30th while the technical and spectacular super stage will take place in Kicukiro on May 31.

Participants will then head to Northern Province for the 200km competitive section before winding up with the 140km fast competitive section due in Eastern Province on May 2.

Hotel La Palisse Nyandungu has offered to give offices for the local body to cater for the preparation as well accommodation for participants and officials.

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