2008 FIA African Rally Championship Ranking table 1. Muna Singh (Z) 16 2. James Whyte (ZW) 15 3. Hideaki Miyoshi (J) 11 10. Rudy Cantanhede (RWA) 2 Rwanda’s Olivier Costa has confirmed his participation in the KCB Safari Rally to be staged from June 27 to 29 in Nairobi, Kenya. The local motor sport governing body, Rwanda Automobile Club (RAC) president Dismas Kayibanda confirmed the development to Times Sport yesterday. Kayibanda said, “Costa is the only local rally driver who has confirmed and registered for the rally.” Costa in his Subaru Impreza will be navigated by Jean Francois Ruhashyankiko in the three-day rally which is scheduled to involve a big number of foreign drivers. Costa finished third behind Rudy Cantanhede and Uganda’s Jas Mangat in the Rwanda Mountain Gorilla rally early this month. The Rwandan driver will be competing in the African rally championship for the first time this year after failing to take part in both the Tanzania and Uganda rallies held in February and April respectively. Costa will hoist Rwanda’s flag after national champion Rudy Cantanhede ruled out participation due to lack of sponsorships. Rudy who is currently sponsored by a Tanzanian transportation company Sunvic says that the sponsorship drawn from the Tanzania Company is not enough to enable him compete in the Safari rally. Rudy last participated in the first leg of the African rally championship which was held in Tanzania where he finished ninth, bagging two points in a rally that was won by Zambia’s Muna Singh. Meanwhile, some of the foreign drivers who have registered for the KCB Safari Rally include Uganda’s speed merchants Emma Katto of EMKA Rally Team, Riyaz Kurji and Jas Mangat. Others are Tanzania’s Navraj Hans who will be navigated by Frank Gitau. Zimbabwean oldies-Jamie Whyte, 48, and Phil Archenoul are at pains to attest that their victory in Kampala was no fluke. Japanese speedster Hideaki Miyoshi is back in the Safari and will be navigated by Tiens suspensions executive Hakaru Ichino. They have entered the Mitsubishi Evo9 they used in Kampala. ARC leader and two-time African champion Muna Singh of Zambia teams up with compatriot David Sihoka in a Sunvic-sponsored Impreza. Ends
