ByJejje Muhinde;
Jean Claude Gakwaya and pace reader Jean Claude Mugabo were assertive in the one-day racing that ended with the victory of the Nyirangarama Rally Sprint.
Gakwaya, in the Subaru Impreza, was exciting, maintaining a clean run from the opening stage in the first national rally event of the year held in the Rwamagana district over the weekend.
The 2017 national rally champion clocked 01:22:14, four minutes and three seconds faster than Jean Jean Gienen navigated by Kevin Mujiji in a Toyota Celica S.
In second place were Olivier Kiwangu and Emmanuel Kubwimana in the Toyota Celica, who survived the day one’s woes to land maximum points for their national championship title chase.
Cruising a Subaru Impreza, Fabrice Yoto navigated by Queen Kalimpinya finished in 4th position.
The one-day event attracted seven vehicles, with only four finishing the race while three became casualties of the rally.
The inaugural Nyirangarama Rally Sprint winner and national champion Giancarlo Davite missed the race since he is preparing for the World Rally Safari Champion due to take place in Kenya this weekend.
Another driver who missed the event weekend is the 2012 Mountain Gorilla victor Mitraros Eleftios.
Rwanda Automobile Club (RAC) representative, Fernand Rutabingwa who expressed gratitude to participants and the sponsor underlined that the rally was a success, and as organizers, they’re happy that the fans in Rulindo are enamored by the sport.
“Other crews who didn’t take part in the race since they’re preparing for the African championship,” Rutabingwa exp
The annual Nyirangarama Rally Sprint is sponsored by Sina Gérard under the flagship of Sina Gerard Ese Urwibutso since 2019.
In his remarks, Sina Gérard promised that he will continue to sponsor the rally event as well as other sports disciplines in order to promote sports in general.
