Kenyan star driver Karan Patel and his co-driver Tauseef Khan dominated the headlines after outshining their rivals during the opening day of the 2024 Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally.

Patel is in pole position to lifting the 2024 FIA African Rally Championship for the second time in a row as he now leads the rankings of the 2024 edition and Rwanda could be his decisive stage to confirm his victory.

Patel takes his Skoda Fabia R5 to Bugesera leading the pack after winning the spectacular stage played Friday, October 18, at the intersection of Kigali Heights and Kigali Convention Centre, covering a distance of 1.15 kilometers in one minute and 52 seconds. Patel finished 28 seconds clear of Rwanda’s Giancarlo Davite and co-pilot Sandrine Isheja emerged second in their Mitsubishi Lancer Evo.

Uganda’s Yassin Nasser, who drives Subaru GVB, is ranked third as he trails 49 seconds behind Patel.

Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally 2024 has attracted 23 drivers including seven competing in the African Championship while other 16, including seven Rwandan drivers, are playing at the national level.

The car racing continues in Bugesera District with 13 laps to be played over two days. Drivers compete in nine laps on Saturday while four more laps will be contested for on Sunday.

The winner of the race on the African Championship schedule gets 30 points and the second and third top finishers earn 24 and 21 points respectively. The fourth takes home 19 points and fifth bags 17.

The sixth gets 15 and the seventh takes 13 points while the eighth driver is awarded 11 points.

The spectacular stage played Friday, October 18, at the intersection of Kigali Heights and Kigali Convention Centre

The spectacular stage played Friday, October 18, at the intersection of Kigali Heights and Kigali Convention Centre

Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally 2024 has attracted 23 drivers including seven competing in the African Championship while other 16, including seven Rwandan drivers, are playing at the national level.

Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally 2024 has attracted 23 drivers including seven competing in the African Championship while other 16, including seven Rwandan drivers, are playing at the national level.

Kalimpinya, now a driver, is among the competitors at the 'Sprint Rally' on Saturday.

Kalimpinya, now a driver, is among the competitors at the ‘Sprint Rally’ on Saturday.

Radio Presenter Anitha Pendo is a co-driver.

Radio Presenter Anitha Pendo is a co-driver.

Sandrine Isheja

Sandrine Isheja

The New Times
Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally 2024 has attracted 23 drivers

Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally 2024 has attracted 23 drivers

Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally 2024 has attracted 23 drivers including seven competing in the African Championship while other 16, including seven Rwandan drivers, are playing at the national level.

Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally 2024 has attracted 23 drivers including seven competing in the African Championship while other 16, including seven Rwandan drivers, are playing at the national level.

Rwanda’s Giancarlo Davite and co-pilot Sandrine Isheja emerged second in their Mitsubishi Lancer Evo.

Rwanda’s Giancarlo Davite and co-pilot Sandrine Isheja emerged second in their Mitsubishi Lancer Evo.

Hundreds of fans turned up for the show in Kigali

Hundreds of fans turned up for the show in Kigali

The New Times
The New Times
Anitha Pendo

Anitha Pendo

The New Times
Kenyan star driver Karan Patel and his co-driver Tauseef Khan

Kenyan star driver Karan Patel and his co-driver Tauseef Khan

The New Times
The New Times
Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally 2024 has attracted 23 drivers including seven competing in the African Championship while other 16, including seven Rwandan drivers, are playing at the national level.

Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally 2024 has attracted 23 drivers including seven competing in the African Championship while other 16, including seven Rwandan drivers, are playing at the national level.