Queen Kalimpinya, a fast-rising rally driver and former finalist in Miss Rwanda beauty pageant, said she is 'beyond grateful' after Formula One super star Sir Lewis Hamilton recognised her racing journey on social media. READ ALSO: From runway to racetrack: Kalimpinya on chasing her rally racing dream A number of international media agencies have in recent months been reporting about Kalimpinya's budding racing journey. On Wednesday, June 14, ‘Females in Motorsport’, a volunteer-run platform, sharing stories and celebrating talent of women in motorsport from those racing to those working behind the scenes, posted a short story of Kalimpinya’s fast rise from a beauty queen to becoming Rwanda’s first ever female rally driver in Rwanda. Queen Kalimpinya, a fast-rising rally driver and former finalist in Miss #Rwanda competition, says she is 'beyond grateful' after Formula One icon Lewis Hamilton recognises her racing journey on social media. pic.twitter.com/RgFdcB2InJ — The New Times (Rwanda) (@NewTimesRwanda) June 14, 2023 When joint-record seven-time Formula 1 winner Hamilton, who visited Rwanda in August 2022, read Kalimpinya’s story via the Females in Motorsport Instagram page, he reposted it in support and admiration of the former beauty queen’s passion and dedication to motorsport, something that left her beyond excited. “I’m overwhelmed by joy,” Kalimpinya told Times Sport reacting to Hamilton’s post. I don’t know whether others took it the way I did but it’s like playing in a 'Tarinyota’ [amateurs] team and you realize that Cristiano or Messi has posted you, she said. It is really encouraging when you see a famous Formula One driver like Lewis appreciating what you do. I am just getting started. Kalimpinya, 24, started as a co-driver Olivier Ngabo in 2019 until she started racing as a driver during the 2022 Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally, becoming the first ever female Rwandan rally driver to do so. ALSO READ: Kalimpinya positive despite poor show at Rwanda Gorilla Rally About Kalimpinya Kalimpinya was born in Gasabo, Kigali into a family of five siblings. Her family later moved to Gitega, Nyarugenge, where she says to have had a pretty interesting childhood. She was always in constant competition with her elder brother who is two years older than her. The two were always together competing in different games, and Kalimpinya loved following her brother everywhere. Most times, she would find herself ‘chilling’ with boys, thus developing a tomboyish behaviour. And that’s how she learned how to ride a bicycle at a very young age. Kalimpinya got into competitive rally racing through encouragement from the Rwanda Automobile Club who, she says, have always been supportive to her through her journey.
