PHOTOS: Davite clinches 2026 Rwanda rally championship after Huye victory

Rwandan driver Davite Giancarlo has clinched the Rwanda National Rally Championship title after winning the Huye Rally on Sunday, October 18, with one round remaining in the season. Driving a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X alongside co-driver Matteo Davite, the experienced rally driver completed the event in one hour, 30 minutes and 41.54 seconds to secure his fourth Huye Rally victory. Davite entered the Huye round with 134 points from the season’s first four rounds, needing just 10 more points to seal the championship. His victory took his tally to 144 points, putting the title beyond the reach of his closest challenger, Queen Kalimpinya, with only the final round remaining. Davite had held a 64-point advantage before the Huye Rally, meaning he needed only a modest result to secure the title. However, he capped off his campaign with another victory on the challenging Huye stages. ALSO READ: Huye Rally set for title-deciding showdown Reflecting on his triumph, Davite praised the rally’s route and organisation, singling out the 40-kilometre stage as a particular highlight. “I love this city. I love the 40-kilometre drive. It was fantastic,” he said. He also thanked the police for managing the route, noting that the opportunity to drive at average speeds exceeding 100 kilometres per hour on a fully closed road made the experience particularly enjoyable. “I’m really proud to win and get this trophy again. It’s my fourth Huye Rally win,” Davite said. The champion also acknowledged the challenge posed by Ugandan competitors, saying their presence had added intensity to the competition. “They give us a good challenge,” he said, adding that he hoped to defend his title next season. Ugandan driver Uganda Lwakataka, partnered by Lawrence Mwambazi in a Subaru Impreza STi N12B, finished second in 1:44:56.06, trailing Davite by 14 minutes and 14.52 seconds. Eric Gakwaya and co-driver Aurore Kayibanda completed the podium in a Subaru Impreza STi N10, recording a time of 1:54:34.83. Gakwaya was pleased with his crew’s performance, describing the weekend as a successful outing despite the challenging conditions. “Today everything was perfect. The rain yesterday was good to race. The car was perfect, my navigator was perfect,” he said. The result secured another podium finish for the pair as they continue to build their experience and competitiveness in rallying. ALSO READ: Women's Rally tests endurance as mechanical failures hit field Kayibanda urges more women to join rallying Aurore Kayibanda, who partnered Gakwaya, said her passion for cars and speed inspired her to enter the sport. “I love cars, I love classic cars. I was hungry for speed,” she said. She argued that rallying presents the same fundamental challenges to all competitors, regardless of gender, pointing to mechanical problems as one of the sport’s biggest obstacles. “In this sport, we all encounter the same challenges. It’s not about being a man or a woman. The biggest challenge we all face is having car trouble and not being able to finish the tournament,” she added. Kayibanda encouraged more women, including young women and mothers, to consider taking up the sport. “I encourage women to join this sport, because it’s a very exciting sport,” she said. She noted that four women were involved in the competition and expressed hope that their participation would inspire others to follow in their footsteps. The Huye Rally attracted an enthusiastic crowd for a weekend of competitive action, with 12 crews tackling challenging special stages, including Saturday night stages conducted under heavy dew. Attention now shifts to the final round of the Rwanda National Rally Championship, scheduled for November 28–29 in the Rwamagana area, where competitors will bring the season to a close. According to the overall results, nine crews completed the rally, while three entries were recorded as retirements.

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PHOTOS: Davite clinches 2026 Rwanda rally championship after Huye victory