Longtime leader Carl ‘Flash’ Tundo resumes his rivalry with Toyota Gazoo Racing South African driver Guy Botterill at this weekend’s penultimate round of the FIA African Rally Championship (ARC) in Rwanda.
The Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally revs off on Friday and could potentially decide the next African champion to take over from Kenyan legend Manvir Baryan.
Manvir completed a rare hat-trick of African title wins in 2019, the same season the coveted Safari Rally title slipped through his grasps, incidentally on the very last dusty Kedong stage in Naivasha. This time round, Tundo is in good stead for the championship if only he completes the rally ahead of Bolteril.
Tundo’s Minti Motorsport Volkswagen Polo R5 has won the last three ARC events on Equator Rally in Kenya, Rally of Tanzania and most recently, the Zambia International Rally where he survived late scare to pull through.
Botterill was the victor at the 2020 edition of Rallye Bandama in Ivory Coast which was later incorporated into the 2021 continental championship following the global outbreak of the coronavirus.
Tundo, who has 90 points, holds a decent 17-point advantage over title rival Botterill and in case he wins in Rwanda, Botterill will be compelled to finish within the top four to keep the title hopes to the season-closing round which, incidentally, is his home rally down south.
Uganda’s Yasin Nasser, the other ARC contestant this year, could possibly spring a surprise if Tundo and Bolteril falter.
The hunt for ARC points in Rwanda also welcomes Kenya’s Karen Patel and Giancarlo Davite from Rwanda.
The Mountain Gorilla Rally will run for two days with 12 competitive stages, covering a total distance of 195.4 kilometres.
Rwanda will be represented by eight drivers; Davite, Jean Claude Gakwaya, Jean Giesen, Elefterios Mitraros, Adolphe Nshimiyimana, Christian Kanangire, Mayaka Felekeni Amigo and Mike Rutuku.
Eric Gakwaya, the Race Director of the RMGR said the rally will start at 2 pm, with a qualification stage at Amahoro Stadium.
The event will head to Bugesera where action will run over two days on Saturday and Sunday.
According to Francois Cyatangabo, the Secretary General of Rwanda Automobile Club, who that wish to follow the qualification stage at Amahoro Stadium will need to present proof of vaccination (at least one dose) and negative results of Covid-19 tests done within 48 hours.
The main rally will take place on closed roads in Gako, Bugesera district, in line with the safety measures required by the Africa Rally Championship.
Carl “Flash” Tundo and his navigator Tim Jessop (left)
