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The Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally, scheduled for September 22-24, is set to take place in the scenic landscapes of Kigali and Bugesera in the Eastern Province of Rwanda.
Kenya National Rally champion, Karan Patel, says he is looking forward to a great battle against Ugandan drivers Jas Mangat and Yasin Nasser at the 2023 Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally.
Patel, known for his lightning speed and exceptional driving skills, is eyeing a back-to-back victory in this prestigious event.
But he is also very much involved in the hunt for the Africa Rally Championship (ARC), where he is locked in a three way battle against the two Ugandans.
Nasser leads the way after four rounds, on 78 points, 13 points ahead of Mangat and 16 points ahead of the Kenyan.
But Patel’s recent triumph at the Rally Burundi in August over his two cross border rivals only fuelled his determination to secure another victory in Rwanda.
"We are up against top drivers across Africa, and they are all battling for the top spot,” a confident Patel said after recce in Kigali.
“Our aim is to win each of the remaining legs, close the gap with the leader, and finally bring the ARC title home."
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The Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally, scheduled for September 22-24, is set to take place in the scenic landscapes of Kigali and Bugesera in the Eastern Province of Rwanda.
Last year, Patel clinched the title, leaving the eventual African champion, Leroy Gomes of Zambia, in his dust.
Patel, with his Ford Fiesta Rally2 and co-driver Tauseef Khan, conquered the challenging course, covering a distance of 171.29 km in just 01 hour 19 minutes and 40.3 seconds.
The 2023 edition of this rally will span 348.18 km and feature six demanding stages. It will commence at the BK Arena and culminate in Bugesera.
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This year's Gorilla Rally has attracted a total of 28 drivers, including 13 competitors from Uganda and six from the ARC.
Three Ugandan rally crews will compete in the premier ARC category including Nasser, Mangat and Innocent Bwamiki.
There will be a twist to Mangat’s challenge though, with Frenchman Escatefigue Jules joining him in cockpit as regular co-driver, Joseph Kamya sits out this one.
Tanzania's Prince Charles Nyerere, fresh from a strong debut in Burundi last month, is gearing up for another thrilling race.
While Kenya’s Rio Smith, who impressed with a strong showing during the Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally in June, is making his return to the African stage.
The two will focus more on the battle for the ARC 2 championship, where Innocent Bwamiki is the current favourite to make it three titles in three years for Uganda.
Mangat currently leads the category, but his switch to the Hyundai means he can no longer score in the support class.
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