In a speeding thrill, Gakwaya Jean Claude and Mugabo Jean Claude took home the 2024 Huye Rally this Sunday 16th. The race that transformed Huye into a stimulating arena, saw Rwandans take first place, closely followed by Ugandans Fred Kitaka Busulwa and Joseph Bongole, with a time difference of only four minutes and ten seconds.
This year’s Huye Rally, organized by the Rwanda Automobile Club, began on Friday, and brought together top talent from Uganda and Rwanda, commencing with an electrifying night stage in Huye City. Thirteen teams embarked on the challenge at 8 pm, navigating a 3km strip through Huye’s heart – each completing two laps. The action then shifted to Gisagara on Saturday, June 15th.
Giancarlo Davite, March’s “Sprint Rally” victor and current championship leader with 35 points, alongside co-pilot Sandrine Isheja, clinched first place in their Mitsubishi Evo10 on Friday with an impressive time of 2 minutes and 27 seconds.
Sunday’s stage launched in Save at 9 am, and an enduro cross at Huye stadium at 10 am. The final stages unfolded in Shyanda before the grand award ceremony at 2 pm. The winning duo finished in two hours, seven minutes, and thirty-five seconds.
Following March’s “Sprint Rally” in Rwamagana, this year’s Huye Rally marks the second event in the Rwanda rally championship calendar.
Saturday’s spectacle featured an “enduro cross” motocross event at 11 am, where the Ugandan team captivated spectators with breathtaking stunts.
The competition intensified with eight diverse stages spanning the roads of Gisagara, Rango, and Kibirizi, culminating in a night stage that brought an extra thrill to the rally. The formidable Gisagara stage, stretching 39.08 kilometers and tackled twice, promised to challenge even the most seasoned drivers. In contrast, the shortest stage in Kibirizi, at just 7.50 kilometers, served as a brief warm-up. As dusk fell, four-night stages introduced an element of excitement to the event.
This year’s rally is notable for its increase in female participants, challenging the norms of this traditionally male-dominated sport. Pioneers like Anita Pendo, Sandrine Isheja, and Queen Kalimpinya lead the charge in Rwanda’s rapidly growing rally scene. Queen Kalimpinya got third place at Sunday’s final rally.
