Rudy beats Mangat to win Mt. Gorilla rally

Final standing 1. R.Cantanhede (RWA) 4:11:06 2. J.Mangat (UGA) 4:14:36 3. O.Costa (RWA) 4:22:15 4. G.Davite (RWA) 4:23:58 5. E.Mitraros (RWA) 4:54:53 6. C.Kwizera (RWA) 5:24:48 7. M.Verdin (BEL) 6:33:45 Rwanda’s Rudy Cantanhede beat Uganda’s Jas Mangat to this year’s Rwanda mountain Gorilla rally which climaxed over the weekend in Kigali. Rudy navigated by Israel Bruno in a Subaru Impreza drove the 377.12km of competitive sections in four hours, 11 minutes and six seconds. Speaking to Times Sport after the race, Rudy was happy with his time and vowed to keep his form going into the next competition which is the Sprint rally in three weeks time. “This is a good start but not enough. I want to win the rest of the remaining events on the national calendar so as to defend my national title,” noted the Belgian born ace. Mangat navigated by Khal Senkungu in a Subaru Impreza came second clocking four hours, 14 minutes and 36 seconds. Rudy beat Mangat in eleven competitive sections on Saturday and Sunday while Mangat was at his best in the competitive section which stretched from Base to Karuruma (47.20km) where he clocked 0:34:46 with Rudy clocking 0:36:39. The eleventh competitive section which stretched from Rukara II to Ntaruka II (45.46km) where Mangat clocked 0:09:37 and Rudy clocked 0:09:57. Olivier Costa navigated by Ange Francois Ruhashyankiko in a Subaru Impreza settled for third position, 4:20:15. Davite Giancarlo and Vindevogel in a Subaru Impreza finished fourth after clocking 4:23:58, Mitraros Elefester and Paganin Paoro in a Subaru Impreza came fifth in 4:54:53 while Claude Kwizera and Innocent Butera in Peugeot 205 finished sixth in a time of 5:24:48. Belgium’s Marc Verdin navigated by Jean François Demare in a Subaru Impreza finished seventh by clocking 6:33:45. Among the 12 cars that started the rally, only seven finished while five bowed out due to mechanical problems. Tony Seagerman and Jan Demeester in a Subaru Impreza and Burundi’s Valery Bukera and Khetia Nipar in a Subaru Impreza bowed out of the second leg of the rally on Saturday. Fitidis Christakis navigated by Abdulgani Salim in Mitsubishi lancer EVO 6, Dethise Alain and Fabrice Musafiri in a Subaru Impreza, John Murengenzi and Ange François Cyantagabo in a Mitsubishi Evo II bowed out on Sunday. This year’s event was sponsored by SN Brussels, East African Cargo, Sonafi, Hotel La Palisse, Rwanda Motors, Akagera Motors, Sonatube, Dalbit petroleum, AZ Impex, Volcano Express, Southern and Northern Provinces. Ends

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Rudy beats Mangat to win Mt. Gorilla rally