Huwel claims Rwanda’s Mountain Gorilla Rally Trophy
KIGALI: TANZANIA’S Ahmed Huwel overcame last section’s puncher to second overall in the Mountain Gorilla Rally of Rwanda this afternoon.
The third round of this year’s African Rally Championship (ARC), the Mountain Gorilla Rally was officially flagged off on July 10 before its climax today, July 12, 2026 in Rwanda’s capital, Kigali.
Tanzania could have its both entries at the top- three spot if Manvir Birdi, who retired in the last stages, maintained his lead til the podium finish.
Still,it was a sad ending for Birdi, another Tanzanian entry in this year’s continental level rally. Birdi who was navigated by Manmeet Birdi in their Skoda Fabia suffered a gearbox failure.
Before his last stages retirement, Birdi was leading the SS15 stage with Huwel following him closely in his Toyota GR Yaris.
Huwel, who was competing in the RC 2 Rally 2 category, clocked 2 hours, 20 minutes and 48.5 seconds, 7.30 minutes behind the winner, Karan Patel from Kenya.
Huwel represented the Mkwawa Rally while Manvir paraded the Asas Team banner.
Third overall was a Kenyan team of Aakif ViranI and Zahir Shah who spent 2 hours, 25 minutes and 52 seconds in their Skoda Fabia R5.
Navin Puligila from India finished fourth overall in Ford Fiesta after spending 2:27:85, finishing ahead of the fifth-placed Jasmeet Chana of Kenya who was timed at 2: 28:47.
Eleven cars managed to finish the tough engine war that raged on dusty roads of Rwanda.
Kenya’s Nikhil Sachania claimed the sixth position in Ford Fiesta while Christian Kanangire from Burundi took the seventh position ahead of the 8th –placed Oscar Ntambi from Uganda.
