Rwandan driver Christian Kanangire has described finishing the Safari Rally Kenya as a major milestone in his rally career. Kanangire and Queen Kalimpinya were among the Rwandan drivers who took part in the rally, which concluded in Naivasha on March 15 as part of the World Rally Championship. Driving a Subaru Impreza WRX STi alongside navigator Kevin Shyaka, Kanangire finished third in the ARC2 category, the second round of the African Rally Championship. “It is something we must be happy with after a hard race. We are delighted and we must build on it,” Kanangire said. “We must build on these results and prepare for the future. We have enjoyed every moment of the race, gained experience and will keep working hard going forward,” he added. Kanangire and Shyaka finished 10th out of 12 teams in the ARC standings and 27th overall among the 30 crews that completed the WRC event. The rally was won by Japanese driver Takamoto Katsuta, while Kenya’s Karan Patel, navigated by Tauseef Khan, won the first round of the African Rally Championship driving a Škoda Fabia R5. Meanwhile, Kalimpinya was recognised as the best female driver in the championship. She and her navigator Olivier Ngabo, driving a Subaru Impreza WRX STi 4D R4, finished 11th out of 13 teams that completed the race. Other Rwandan competitors also took part in the rally. Giancarlo Davite and co-driver Fabrice Yoto retired on the 17th stage on Sunday after their Subaru Impreza WRX STi developed mechanical problems. Another Rwandan crew, Jean Claude Gakwaya and Jean Claude Mugabo, driving a Subaru Impreza STi N12, were disqualified after using the wrong direction during the race in the third zone.
