The first day of the highly anticipated Huye Rally 2025 concluded with an impressive performance from the duo Christian Kanangire and Fernand Rutabingwa, who emerged as the day’s top leaders after dominating Saturday’s stages in Gisagara and Huye districts.
Organized by the Huye Motorsports Club in partnership with the Rwanda Automobile Club (RAC), the annual rally not only showcases Rwanda’s top driving talent but also serves as a tribute to the late rally driver Claude Gakwaya, who passed away in 1986 following an accident.
A Competitive Lineup
A total of 11 cars set off on Friday evening, including 10 crews from Rwanda and one from Uganda. On Saturday, drivers battled through eight challenging stages covering 127 kilometers, navigating twisting routes and shifting conditions in the Southern Province.
The stages included two runs each through the Gisagara–Kibilizi–Mugomba–Gisagara stretch (SS1 & SS2), Rango–Kibilizi (SS3 & SS4), Kibilizi–Rango (SS5 & SS6), and Rango–Kibilizi again for SS7 & SS8, with some of the final sections raced under the night sky, raising the level of excitement and difficulty.
Kanangire and Fernand Set the Pace
Driving a Subaru Impreza, Kanangire and Fernand clocked an impressive 1 hour, 7 minutes and 57 seconds, placing them comfortably ahead of second-placed Jean Claude Gakwaya and Jean Claude Mugabo, who trailed by 2 minutes and 45 seconds.
Female trailblazer Queen Kalimpinya and her co-driver Olivier Ngabo secured third place, just two seconds behind the second crew. Fabrice Yoto and Axel Ruzindana followed closely to take fourth position.
Further down the leaderboard, Gratien Rutabingwa and Irène Munyaneza in a Peugeot 106 finished fifth, while Jack Hakizimana and Semana Ish Kevin, also in a Peugeot 106, secured sixth place.
Uganda’s sole representatives, Faizal Kayira and Katumba Duncan, powered their way to seventh place, pursued by Mike Rutuku and Alain Gasarabwe in eighth, as Brian Murengenzi and Kevin Rusekuza completed the top nine.
Only two cars failed to finish Day One. One of them was a Subaru Impreza driven by Eric Gakwaya with co-driver Miss Aurore Kayibanda, while another Subaru crewed by Salvator Dusingizimana and Emmanuel Kubwimana also retired early.
Final Day Action Ahead
The Huye Rally 2025 concludes this Sunday, October 26, featuring the final four stages. The first two will take place along the Save-Shyanda road starting at 10 a.m., while the closing stages will run in the opposite direction from Shyanda to Save starting at noon. The awards ceremony is scheduled for 2:30 p.m., where the winners will be crowned champions of this year’s thrilling edition.
Rally fans across the country remain eager to see whether Kanangire and Fernand will maintain their lead and drive home the ultimate victory.
Author: Justinmind HARERIMANA
