Davite hoping to keep ARC title dream alive

Rwanda’s rally champion Giancarlo Davite is hoping to extend his title bid for the Africa Rally Championship when he competes in the 60th edition of the KCB Kenya Safari Rally slated to run between June 8 and 10.Davite, whose Subaru Impreza ‘Omelette’ suffered gearbox failure in the opening stage of the final day of the Zambia rally last month forcing him to retire, has not given up on the title and hopes to bounce back by staging a good show in Kenya this weekend.The Italian-born rally ace, said recently that despite trailing ARC leader Mohammed Essa of Zambia by 30 points, he is still optimistic about his chances of reducing the deficit in the KCB Safari Rally.“We are focused and piling up energy for the rally. The car is being worked on. Despite the disappointment in Zambia, we are more motivated, our objectives for the Safari rally are very clear. We aim to finish as high as possible,” said Davite’s female co-driver Sylvia Vindevogel.Davite is fourth on the ARC standings with 22 points behind Zambia’s Essa on 52 points, Zimbabwe’s Jess Watson with 25 points and South Africa’s Mark Cronje with 25 points respectively.Christakis Fitidis is another Rwandan, who will spice up the Safari Rally. The Rwandan drivers contend for rally title but will face competition from the likes of ARC leader Essa, Zimbabwe’s Gred Stead, Kenyan top guns Alastair Cavenagh, Ian Duncan and the reigning champion Carl Tundo.A total of 35 entrants have been confirmed for the race which will be flagged off this morning at the traditional KICC ramp. It will be followed by a spectator stage at Uhuru Park and back to KICC for an overnight stay on June 8. The rally will end on Sunday.

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Davite hoping to keep ARC title dream alive