Giancarlo out to secure Toyota Rally crown

RWANDA’s rally driver Davite Giancarlo is seeking his first Toyota Zimbabwe Challenge Rally title when the country’s premier motorsport event dusts off at the Cresta Lodge in Harare this Friday.The Toyota Zimbabwe Challenge Rally is the opening round of the 2012 FIA African Rally Championship series and will be held over three days, starting today until Sunday in Harare as well as surrounding areas of Ruwa and Norton.Giancarlo, who has had mixed results in the Zimbabwe rally over the past three years, hopes to end the bad omen to lift this year’s title.Driving his Subaru Impreza N4 and navigated by his female navigator Sylvia Vindevogel, The Italian born Rwandan driver is optimistic about staging an impressive show.He said on Monday before his departure, “I am ready and we are having big plans for this year’s continental rally championship.”“Our campaign starts in Harare. I am targeting to finish among the best three though I know there is stiff challenge from our rivals but we are very ready and our eyes are fixed on performing to our best,” added Giancarlo who will be flagged off eighth.This year’s event has attracted a good field of 17 cars of which 12 are from Zimbabwe and five from fellow African countries Rwanda, South Africa, Uganda, Kenya and Zambia.And leading the assault of the 12 Zimbabwean drivers in this year’s Toyota Zimbabwe Challenge Rally will be former champion and two-time African motor rallying king Jamie Whyte. The start of the rally will also be at the Cresta Lodge where the start ramp will be at the reception area.

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Giancarlo out to secure Toyota Rally crown