Hyderabad’s Naveen Puligilla Begins Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally 2026 Campaign

Hyderabad: Hyderabad’s rally champion Naveen Puligilla is all set to begin his campaign in the 2026 Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally, the third round of the FIA African Rally Championship (ARC), after successfully completing the shakedown and qualifying stage on Friday.

Naveen, representing Duran Racing, will compete in the ARC3 category alongside veteran co-driver Musa Sherif of Kasaragod. The Indian duo will pilot a Ford Fiesta prepared and serviced by MRU Motorsports Africa in one of the most demanding rallies on the African motorsport calendar.

The prestigious event, which also serves as a round of the Rwanda National Rally Championship, will cover a total distance of 307.52 kilometres, including 18 Special Stages spread over 252 competitive kilometres across Rwanda’s challenging mountain terrain during the weekend.

The Indian pair enters the rally with growing confidence following a series of impressive performances on the international stage. Earlier this year, at the WRC Safari Rally Kenya in March, which doubled as the opening round of the FIA African Rally Championship, Naveen and Musa secured third place in the WRC3 category and finished second in the ARC3 class, underlining their ability to compete with some of Africa’s top rally teams.

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The duo had previously created history at Rally Saudi Arabia, a round of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), in November 2025. They became the first Indian driver and co-driver combination to achieve a podium finish in any WRC category after claiming second place in the WRC3 class. Their landmark achievement earned them the Federation of Motorsports Clubs of India (FMSCI) Special Award for International Achievement at the federation’s 2025 Annual Awards ceremony.

Speaking ahead of the rally, Naveen Puligilla, the 2025 Indian National Rally Champion in the 3T Class, said that the reconnaissance drive had provided the team with a good understanding of the stages and that the shakedown session had gone smoothly.

He noted that the terrain in Rwanda is highly technical and that the constantly changing grip levels on the mountain roads would test both the car and the crew. Naveen expressed confidence in the team’s preparation and said they were looking forward to delivering a strong performance for India.

Veteran co-driver Musa Sherif, who brings more than three decades of rallying experience, said the team was satisfied with its preparations and that the car was performing well. He added that their objective would be to maintain a clean and consistent run throughout the rally and secure another strong result for the team.

Widely regarded as one of the toughest events on the FIA African Rally Championship calendar, the Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally is known for its fast yet highly technical stages that challenge the skill, endurance and consistency of both drivers and machines.