The 2026 Mountain Gorilla Rally began on Friday 10 at Kigali convention center park square (KCC) as drivers tackled the free practice, shakedown and qualifying stage in Kigali. The opening day combined technical inspections, qualifying runs and ceremonial activities, with hundreds of spectators lining the route to witness some of Africa's finest rally drivers in action before the competitive stages begin in Bugesera. Kenya's Karan Patel set the pace in the qualifying stage, clocking 3:08.3 to secure the fastest time ahead of compatriot Aakif Virani, who matched the same time but finished second after the tie-break. ALSO READ: The Gatimus: A mother-daughter bond forged through motorsport India's Naveen Puligilla placed third overall with 3:28.3, followed by Kenya's Sameer Nanji on the same time. India's Nikhil Sachania completed the top five in 4:07.9, while Rwanda's Queen Kalimpinya finished as the leading local driver in sixth with 4:08.2, just three tenths of a second behind Sachania. Motorsport celebrated in Kigali The Minister of Sports, Nelly Mukazayire, officially flagged off the event and welcomed competitors from across the continent, describing the rally as much more than a sporting competition. It is truly an honour for me to join you today for the official opening of the 2026 Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally. This is not just an event. It is a celebration of commitment, passion and ambition. ALSO READ: Bugesera welcomes 18-stage Mountain Gorilla Rally She highlighted the growing diversity within the sport. I was particularly inspired to see families competing together, including a mother-and-daughter crew. Sport brings families together, and motorsport is no exception. Mukazayire added that the rally reflects Rwanda's broader sporting ambitions. This rally reflects Rwanda's ambition to continue hosting major international sporting events while inspiring more young people to embrace motorsport. ALSO READ: BPR Bank powers Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally with Rwf150m ... Minister experiences rally firsthand Before the qualifying stage, Mukazayire experienced the speed of rallying from inside a competition car during a passenger ride with defending champion Karan Patel. Reflecting on the experience, she admitted it gave her a new appreciation of the sport. It was an intense experience. At some moments I felt like I wanted to get out of the car because of the speed and adrenaline. Karan is a very skilled driver. There were moments when I thought he should brake, but I quickly realised that I couldn't do what he does. The experience gave me a new appreciation of the level of concentration, skill and courage required in motorsport. Patel joked that the minister quickly adapted to the pace. The Kenyan driver believes the experience could help the sport continue to grow in Rwanda. I hope it will be beneficial for motorsport in Rwanda because now she has experienced what a rally car can do. She'll better understand how to support drivers like Queen Kalimpinya and many others. After topping qualifying, Patel shifted his attention to the real challenge ahead. We've finished the qualifying stage. Now the real rally begins, and we'll do our best to finish strongly and hopefully get on the podium. FIA confirms technical compliance FIA Africa Technical Delegate Lucho Musa confirmed that scrutineering had been completed successfully and that the event is being conducted according to FIA regulations. As FIA officials, we are here to ensure the rally is organised in accordance with FIA regulations. My responsibility is to ensure every competing car complies with FIA technical requirements. He explained that Rwandan veteran Giancarlo Davite's car did not meet FIA Rally Championship specifications and will therefore compete only for points in the Rwanda National Rally Championship.
