Christian Kanangire secured a dominant victory at the 2024 Gako Sprint Rally that took place in Bugesera District on Saturday, September 14.

Their win not only earned them the top spot in the event but also propelled them to the lead of the National Championship after three rounds of competition.

The rally, which spanned 77 kilometers, saw drivers taking super stages in Bugesera, including two in Gasenyi (24km each) and two in Ruhuha (14.5km each)

Of the seven drivers who registered to participate at the rally, five showed up after Genese Semana and Huraha Sekamana withdrew from the race.

Driving a Subaru Impreza car model, Kanangire and his co-pilot Kevin Mujiji, dominated the rally clocking 58 minutes and 42 seconds after claiming a super stage in Gasenyi and both super stages competed for in Ruhuha.

They overcame tough challenge from Team Queen Kalimpinya and co-pilot Olivier Ngabo (1h9’56”) who emerged first runner-up while Mike Rutuku and co-pilot Alain Gasarabwe finished third in the race with 1 hour, 10 minutes, and 13 seconds.

In fourth place came Gratien Rutabingwa and Irène Munyaneza, driving a Peugeot 106, while Claude Gakwaya and Claude Mugabo, driving a Subaru Impreza, finished fifth after suffering an accident in the first stage at Gasenyi.

Following their victory in Bugesera, Kanangire and Mujiji now lead the National Championship standings with 63 points.

The next event on the national rally calendar is the prestigious Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally due from October 18-20.

The Mountain Gorilla Rally is also part of the African Rally Championship (ARC).