Hyderabad-based Indian rally driver Naveen Puligilla is all set to take on the 2026 Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally. It is the third round of the FIA African Rally Championship (ARC). After completing the shakedown and qualifying stage on Friday, he is now gearing up for the main race. According to a press release, Naveen is pairing up with experienced co-driver Musa Sherif of Kasargod in this rally. They will drive a Ford Fiesta car prepared and serviced by MRU Motorsports Africa in the ARC3 category.
The event is also a part of the Rwanda National Rally Championship. It will cover a total distance of 307.52 km, which will include 18 special stages on Saturday and Sunday covering a competitive distance of 252 km on challenging hilly roads.
The illustrious Indian duo of Duran Racing team arrive in Rwanda brimming with confidence after an impressive international campaign. At the WRC Safari Rally Kenya in March 2026, which was also the opening round of the FIA African Rally Championship, Naveen and Musa performed brilliantly by finishing third in the WRC3 category. Additionally, they placed second in the ARC3 class, highlighting their ability to successfully compete against some of the best rally crews in Africa.
Earlier, the pair had created Indian motorsport history at the Rally Saudi Arabia, a round of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) in November 2025. He became the first Indian driver and co-driver to achieve a podium finish in any WRC category by finishing second in the WRC3 class. For this historic achievement on the world stage, Naveen and Musa were honored with the special award for international achievement at the 2025 annual awards ceremony of the Federation of Motorsports Clubs of India (FMSCI).
Naveen, the 2025 Indian National Rally Champion in the 3T class, said, "Reiki has given us a good understanding of the stages, and our shakedown today was also clean. The terrain here is quite technical, and the grip levels keep changing on the hilly roads, which will definitely test both the car and the crew, so it will be important to stay focused."
Musa Sherif, who has over 34 years of rally experience and will once again handle pace notes for Naveen, said, "We are happy with our preparations, the car feels good, and our aim is to have a clean, consistent race and come back with another strong result."
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