Two-time African Rally Champion Karan Patel will headline the 2026 Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally, as some of the continent’s top rally drivers converge on Kigali for one of the most important rounds of this year’s African Rally Championship (ARC).
The rally, scheduled for July 10–12, marks the 26th edition of Rwanda’s premier motorsport event and serves as the penultimate round of the 2026 ARC season, with only the Tanzania Rally remaining before the continental champion is crowned.
A total of 19 crews are expected to compete, including reigning African Rally Champion Yasin Nasser of Uganda and defending Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally winner Samman Singh Vohra of Kenya, setting the stage for a highly competitive weekend.
Patel, driving a Škoda Fabia Rally2, arrives in Rwanda as the current leader of the African Rally Championship standings after strong performances in Kenya and Uganda. The Kenyan has accumulated 83 championship points, ahead of compatriot Samman Singh Vohra on 63 points, while Uganda’s Yasin Nasser sits sixth with 34 points.
Host nation Rwanda will be represented by three crews: Queen Kalimpinya and co-driver Olivier Ngabo, Christian Kanangire alongside Kevin Mujiji, and Claude Gakwaya with Claude Mugabo. All three crews will compete in Subaru Impreza cars.
Kanangire currently occupies 10th place in the ARC standings with 14 points, while Kalimpinya is 12th with 11 points, having each contested one championship event this season.
The entry list also features experienced competitors from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, and India, highlighting the regional appeal of the championship and the growing stature of Rwanda’s rally on the African motorsport calendar.
The African Rally Championship, sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), is Africa’s premier rally series, bringing together the continent’s leading drivers to compete across challenging gravel and tarmac stages in several host countries. The Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally has become one of its flagship events, known for its demanding terrain, fast-paced stages, and passionate fan base.
Unlike circuit racing, rallying sees drivers and co-drivers race against the clock on closed public roads, navigating a series of timed special stages using detailed pace notes while tackling varying road surfaces and weather conditions.
Last year’s Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally was won by Kenya’s Samman Singh Vohra, who returns looking to defend his title while closing the gap on Patel in the battle for this year’s continental championship.
With valuable championship points at stake and the season entering its decisive phase, the Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally is expected to play a pivotal role in determining the outcome of the 2026 African Rally Championship.
