Kenya’s Karan Patel claims third Rwanda Rally title in Bugesera

Kenya’s Karan Patel secured his third career win in the Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally (RMGR) in the Bugesera region, during the penultimate round of the 2024 FIA African Rally Championship (ARC). Alongside co-driver Tauseef Khan in a Skoda Fabia R5, Patel dominated the rally, which covered 217 km of competitive stages and a total of 367 km.

Patel started strong by winning Friday’s Qualifying Stage at the Kigali Convention Centre, allowing him to select his position in the starting lineup for the Rwandan leg. He took advantage of this, tackling the challenging roads with determination and securing his third RMGR title since 2022. That year, he narrowly missed the ARC title, which went to Zambia’s Leroy Gomes.

Entering the Rwanda event, Patel held a significant lead in the championship. His victory in Friday’s Qualifying Stage, where he completed the 1.15 km route in 1 minute and 52 seconds, set the pace for the rest of the rally. He maintained his lead from start to finish, recording a total time of 01:37:47.7. Patel's time was 12 minutes and 33.4 seconds faster than Uganda’s Micheal Mukula, who, along with co-driver Edward Kiyingi in a Subaru Impreza, finished in second place with a time of 01:50:21.1.

Kenyan paraplegic driver Nikhil Sachania, partnered with Deep Patel in a Ford Fiesta, completed the podium with a time of 01:55:36.3. Nikhil also won the ARC3 category, while Mukula took the ARC2 title. Uganda’s Yassin Nasser finished fourth in a Subaru GVB.

The 2024 RMGR attracted 23 drivers, including seven competing in the African Championship, while the remaining 16, among them seven Rwandans, participated in the national category. Joshua Muwanguzi and Hamuza Lwanga emerged victorious in the national category, ahead of Nasser Mutebi.

About the Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally (RMGR) 2024

The RMGR is the fifth event in the 2024 ARC calendar, following rallies in Uganda, Zambia, Burundi, and a postponed event in Tanzania due to logistical issues. This year’s RMGR was held in Kigali City and the Bugesera District of Rwanda’s eastern province. The rally’s earlier editions took place in the mountainous regions of the Northern Province.

2024 RMGR Results

1. Karan Patel (KEN) / Tauseef Khan - Skoda Fabia R5 - 01:37:47.7
2. Micheal Mukula (UGA) / Edward Kiyingi - Subaru Impreza - 01:50:21.1
3. Nikhil Sachania (KEN) / Deep Patel - Ford Fiesta - 01:55:36.3
4. Yassin Nasser (UGA) / Ali Katumba - Subaru GVB - 02:03:15.7

Category Winners

• ARC2: Micheal Mukula (UGA) / Edward Kiyingi
• ARC3: Nikhil Sachania (KEN) / Deep Patel

Past RMGR Winners

2012: Elefter Mitraros (RWA)

2013: Giancarlo Davite (RWA)

2014: Essa Mohammed (ZAM)

2015: Jaspreet Chatthe (KEN)

2016: Valery Bukera (BUR)

2017: Manvir Singh Baryan (KEN)

2018: Giancarlo Davite (RWA)

2019: Jean Claude Gakwaya (RWA)

2020: Event Canceled (COVID)

2021: Carl Tundo (KEN)

2022-2024: Karan Patel (KEN)

FIA AFRICAN RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP (ARC) 2024

10 MAY 12 MAY: ROUND 1-Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally (KARAN PATEL)

26 JUL 28 JUL: ROUND 2- Zambia International Rally (KARAN PATEL)

23 AUG 25 AUG: ROUND 3- Rally of Tanzania (CANCELLED)

20 SEP 22 SEP: ROUND 4-Rallye International du Burundi (KARAN PATEL)

18 OCT 20 OCT: ROUND 5-Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally (KARAN PATEL)

NEXT

29 NOV 01 DEC: ROUND 6-Equator Rally/GURU NANAK RALLY