Indian rally duo P. Naveen and Musa Sherif set for Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally challenge

Indian rally drivers P. Naveen and Musa Sherif are set to tackle the 2026 Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally this weekend. Driving a Ford Fiesta, the duo aims to continue their strong international momentum following podium success in Kenya and Saudi Arabia

Hyderabad: Hyderabad’s rally ace P. Naveen is all set to take on 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.

Partnering seasoned co-driver Musa Sherif of Kasaragod, Naveen will compete in the ARC3 category, driving a Ford Fiesta prepared and serviced by MRU Motorsports Africa.

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The prestigious event, which also counts towards the Rwanda National Rally Championship, will cover a total distance of 307.52 km, including 18 Special Stages with a competitive distance of 252 km across the demanding mountain roads of Rwanda over Saturday and Sunday.

Representing Duran Racing, the Indian duo enters the event with growing confidence following an impressive international campaign. At the WRC Safari Rally Kenya in March 2026, which also served as the opening round of the FIA African Rally Championship, Naveen and Musa delivered an outstanding performance by finishing third in the WRC3 category and second in the ARC3 class, showcasing their competitiveness against some of Africa’s finest rally teams.

The pair had earlier scripted Indian motorsport 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 secure a podium finish in any WRC category by claiming second place in the WRC3 class. Their historic 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 (3T Class), said, “The recce has given us a good understanding of the stages and we had a clean shakedown today. The terrain is quite technical and with changing grip levels of the mountain roads it will certainly test both the car and the crew, so it will be important to stay focused. We are confident with our preparation and are looking forward to delivering a strong performance for India.”