Saturday, September 12, will see women take centre stage as the Rwanda Automobile Club (RAC) hosts the inaugural Women in Motorsport Rally, an event aimed at celebrating and promoting the growing participation of women in the sport.

The rally, which forms part of the National Rally Championship, will be held in Gako, Bugesera District. Nine cars are expected to compete across six stages covering approximately 130 kilometres along the Nemba, Kamabuye and Gasenyi routes.

Under the event regulations, every competing crew must feature at least one woman, either as the driver or co-driver.

Among the leading contenders is Queen Kalimpinya, the 2025 National Rally Championship winner and one of Rwanda’s most prominent female drivers.

Other notable entries include Sandrine Isheja, who will co-drive for Giancarlo Davite; Aurore Kayibanda, who will partner with Eric Gakwaya; and Arielle Gahiga , who will compete alongside Chris Banange.

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A new generation of female competitors

The event highlights a growing group of women making their mark in Rwandan motorsport.

Alongside Kalimpinya, competitors such as Isheja, Kayibanda, Gahigi and Jess Mugabo represent a new generation of women increasingly taking up roles as drivers and co-drivers.

Isheja has established herself as a promising co-driver, having competed alongside Giancarlo Davite and regularly featured among Rwanda’s leading rally crews.

Kayibanda is also emerging as one of the country’s notable female co-drivers. She was recognised as the Best Female Driver at the Nyirangarama National Championship Rally in March.

Gahigi is another rising name on Rwanda’s national rally scene and will compete alongside Banange in Saturday’s event.

Mugabo, meanwhile, continues to build her reputation as a female co-driver, competing alongside Salvator Dusingizimana and contributing to the growing presence of women in the sport.

Their increasing involvement reflects a gradual shift in a discipline that has traditionally been dominated by men.

A commendable rise of women in motorsport

For Kalimpinya, Saturday’s event offers an important platform to increase the visibility of women in motorsport and encourage more to take up the sport.

"I’m very happy because we’re seeing a large number of women in motorsport,” Kalimpinya said.

"Not just in the region, we have more women in motorsport and in the organisation. Motorsport isn’t just a male-dominated industry anymore. We’re seeing more women on the track.”

Kalimpinya began her motorsport career as a co-driver before moving into the driver’s seat. She believes overcoming fear and building confidence are essential for women looking to enter the sport.

"Specifically for women, I would say courage — the courage to participate,” she explained. "It’s a very dangerous sport, and not very common.”

However, courage is not the only challenge facing aspiring female competitors. The financial cost of competing remains a major barrier, with cars, safety equipment and mechanical support requiring significant investment.

"Because you need a car, equipment and a mechanical team behind you, that’s all very financially demanding,” Kalimpinya said.

She called for more partners and sponsors to support women who have the passion and ambition to compete but lack the financial resources to do so.

The initiative is being managed by the Rwanda Automobile Club, which initially organised a single annual event before expanding its activities as interest in women’s participation in motorsport continued to grow.

RAC leadership said registration remains open to women who wish to enter Saturday’s rally.

As more women take their places behind the wheel, in the co-driver’s seat and across rally operations, the Women in Motorsport Rally is expected to provide an important platform for advancing female participation and strengthening the next generation of Rwanda’s motorsport community.