Kenyan driver Karan Patel (R) and his navigator Tauseef Khan spray champagne in celebration of their second consecutive Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally glory in Bugesera on Sunday, September 24. All photos by Dan Gatsinzi
Kenyan driver Karan Patel and his navigator Tauseef Khan led the celebrations in Bugesera after winning the 2023 Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally on Sunday in a Ford Fiesta RS car.
Patel, who won the Rwandan Rally in 2022, retained the race after covering a distance of 175,56km in 1 hour 20 minutes and 15 seconds. He finished the three-day rally at the top after opening a 16.7 second lead on Jas Mangat of Uganda who emerged second overall.
With the victory in Rwanda, Patel is now second overall on the 2023 African Rally championship rankings with 87 points, just three points shy of Uganda’s Yasin Nasser (90) who still leads the continental championship with 90 points despite finishing sixth on the ARC ranking in the Mountain Gorilla Championship.
Having conquered Burundi, Kenya and now Rwanda, the Kenyan has two more races in Zambia and Tanzania to chase Nasser off the top of the 2023 ARC rankings.
Meanwhile, Rwanda’s Giancarlo Davite finished the Rwandan Rally in the fourth position after he pulled out of the race last year while Queen Kalimpinya, the only female driver among 25 who participated this year, finished 18th out of 21 drivers that managed to finish the race.
The New Times’ photographer Dan Kwizera Gatsinzi takes you through his lenses and brings you a recap of some key highlights that you might have missed from the weekend rally that took place in the dusty roads of Bugesera.
Rwandan driver Jean Claude Gakwaya, fixing his car before racing
Rwandan driver Jean Claude Gakwaya, fixing his car before racing
Queen Kalimpinya, a fast-rising rally driver and former finalist in Miss Rwanda beauty pageant, fixing her car before starting the race in Bugesera.
The three-day sports event was officially opened by Sports Minister Aurore Mimosa Munyangaju at Kigali Convention Centre on Friday September 22.
One of 30 drivers who participated in the 2023 Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally
The rally was a 348.18 km stretch with six stages that ran from September 22-24 in Kigali and in Bugesera District.
Kenyan driver Karan Patel and his navigator Tauseef Khan 's during the competition in Bugesera District.
This year’s edition has attracted 30 drivers including 23 national drivers and seven who are battling for points in the penultimate round of the African Rally Championship.
Residents of Bugesera Distrct watch the race on Saturday
The rally was a 348.18 km stretch with six stages that ran from September 22-24 in Kigali and in Bugesera District.
Defending champion Karan Patel's car
The rally was a 348.18 km stretch with six stages that ran from September 22-24 in Kigali and in Bugesera District.
The 2023 edition of the car race is hosted by the Rwanda Automobile Club.
This year’s edition has attracted 30 drivers
Queen Kalimpinya, a fast-rising rally driver and former finalist in Miss Rwanda beauty pageant, during the race.
Only 21 drivers managed to finish the race out of 30 drivers who started the race.
Queen Kalimpinya, the only female driver among 25 who participated this year, finished 18th out of 21 drivers that managed to finish the race.
Driver Jean Claude Gakwaya and his co-pilot Mugabo
Queen Kalimpinya, the only female driver among 25 who participated this year, finished 18th out of 21 drivers that managed to finish the race.
Patel, who won the Rwandan Rally in 2022, retained the race after covering a distance of 175,56km in 1 hour 20 minutes and 15 seconds.
Richard Mutabazi, the Mayor of Bugesera District pose for a photo with Kenyan driver Karan Patel (R) and his navigator Tauseef Khan during the awarding ceremony in Bugesera.
Patel is now second overall on the 2023 African Rally championship rankings with 87 points, just three points shy of Uganda’s Yasin Nasser (90) who still leads the continental championship with 90 points despite finishing sixth on the ARC ranking in the Mountain Gorilla Championship.