Connect with us

Motorsport

Takamoto secures maiden WRC victory at gruelling Safari Rally

Published

on

Takamoto Katsuta and co-driver Aaron Johnston have so much to remember about the Safari Rally Kenya after registering their maiden World Rally Championship victory on Sunday in Naivasha. 

The Toyota Gazoo Racing driver landed his first-ever podium at the Safari Rally in 2021 and, this year, secured his first victory, making history as the first Japanese driver to win a WRC round after Kenjiro Shinozuka, who won at the Ivory Coast Rally in 1992.

Katsuta elevated to the rally lead after three of his team-mates retired from the event on Saturday morning’s loop.

The Japanese went for a cautious drive on the final day to keep his dream alive, eventually clinching victory with a 26.4-second lead over Adrien Fourmaux. This was Katsuta’s 94th WRC event start. 

Katsuta could not hold back tears in his speech as a WRC event winner.

“I don’t know what to say. We have had so many difficulties and moments. Aaron has worked very hard to work with me. The team always believed in me when I was failing all the time. I’m here because of them and Aaron,” he said.

Adrien Fourmaux kept Hyundai in contention, securing second position overall to console a devastating team that was hit by overheating issues in the event. It is Fourmaux’s 10th WRC career podium.

WRC Safari Rally Podium | Courtesy Photo

Sami Pajari, having suffered misfortunes on Saturday, managed to put another Toyota GR Yaris on the podium in third. 

In the Africa Rally Championship, Karan Patel secured victory, followed by Aakif Virani.

The post Takamoto secures maiden WRC victory at gruelling Safari Rally appeared first on Kawowo Sports.

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Motorsport

East African Coastal Run 2026: Forester owners Uganda set to embark on 1163 KM trek for charity in Mombasa

Published

on

The Forester Owners Uganda will undertake a total distance of over 1163 kilometres from Kampala to Mombasa in the name of charity.

This 7-day tour dubbed as the “2026 East African Coastal Run” will commence on Wednesday, 5th August with three flag-off ceremonies.

The first flag off will take place at Supremacy Lounge (10 AM), the second at Legacy Motors (11:30 AM) and the third at Merri Mor Arena (Buwate) at 1 PM.

Prossy Mbabazi, the president of the Forester Owners Uganda outlines that this run is give back to the society and promote destination Uganda in the same vein.

“Forest Owners Uganda in conjunction with PWANI motorsport charity, Subaru Owners club Eldoret and Outback Tribe have organized this East African Coastal run” Mbabazi remarked during the press briefing at Merri Mor Arena.

The whole expedition will have six days of thrilling action and activities from Uganda to Kenya.

Day one will be flag off with an overnight stop over at Eldoret in Kenya.

The cars and entourage will then embark on the Eldoret – Nairobi route on day two.

Day three has Nairobi to Dani with the fourth day (8th August 2026) dedicated to the Shimba Hills Charity event where different items will be donated.

Day five has the Tourism and Beach day. On day six, the teams will depart for Nairobi before returning to Eldoret and finally Uganda.

Sponsors and partners:

A cross section of sponsors and partners have joined hands together to make the event a success.

The Forest Owners Uganda are joined by PWANI motorsport and charity, Subaru Owners Eldoret, Outback Tribe, German Car Medic, Merri Mor Arena, Legacy Motors, St Raphael Medical Centre, Banana Eco Resort Beach, Uganda Tourism Board (UTB), ESL Logistics, Ndeiko Chai Ingi, Supremacy Lounge, Subaru Walts Auto Engineering, among others.

Subaru Owners Uganda: Driving Together, Giving Together, Changing lives.

The post East African Coastal Run 2026: Forester owners Uganda set to embark on 1163 KM trek for charity in Mombasa appeared first on Kawowo Sports.

Continue Reading

Motorsport

Rwanda’s Queen enthused by Pearl Rally debut

Published

on

Rwanda’s Queen Kalimpinya is already looking forward to the crowning moment when she takes on the Pearl of Africa Rally for the first time this weekend.

The Pearl Rally comes as the second round of the Africa Rally Championship, and it got off proper on Tuesday with crews going through the routes in Mbarara. 

Queen will be featuring in the Ugandan round as she chases African rally glory. She believes there has been more than enough preparation for the challenge. 

“Somehow, the Safari Rally I did in March prepared me for the Uganda rally. I am coming back from Safari Rally, which was tough; I don’t see any challenge with the stages,” she told Kawowo Sports.

Queen Kalimpinya

Pearl Rally will open Queen’s attempt in the ARC2 contention this season. 

“I will be doing ARC starting with the Pearl. I would have picked points from Safari, but there was an issue with the tank. Now that it is fixed, I will fight for the points here,” she said.

Queen is taking on a second event out of her home country, Rwanda. She will be driving a Subaru GVB.

“Honestly, I am still getting comfortable with the car. Back home, I still drive a GC8, so it is quite tricky.”

“The GVB is a great car, the gearbox is different from mine, and the power is amazing. I am not exhausting its power to the maximum, but I am gradually adapting,” she added. 

Queen Kalimpinya

Queen will partner with a new co-driver, Olivier Ngabo. The crew’s focus will be to secure a clean finish from Uganda. 

The Pearl Rally revs off with a 4.66km qualifying stage on Thursday, followed by a 3.77 kilometer shakedown at Mwesigwa Resort in Mbarara.

Rally will consist of twelve (12) stages, running a total competitive distance of 201.85 kilometres. 

The post Rwanda’s Queen enthused by Pearl Rally debut appeared first on Kawowo Sports.

Continue Reading

Motorsport

Kenya’s Aakif aiming for Pearl Rally podium to consolidate ARC title bid 

Published

on

Aakif Virani is optimistic that the Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally will grant him an opportunity to fight for two Africa Rally Championship honours; the overall ARC and Masters titles.

Virani features in the Pearl Rally for the first time. The event running from 7-9 May in Mbarara, western Uganda, is the second round of the Africa Rally Championship.

The Kenyan champion put up a fight in the first round of the ARC in Kenya to secure a second position behind Kenyan counterpart Karan Patel. And that put him second on the ARC standings, just 11 points behind his compatriot Patel.

“The inspiration to come to Uganda is that we are second in the ARC and we are leading the ARC Masters series. We have positions one and two to defend and try to get two championships,” he told Kawowo Sports. 

Over 20 crews will be eligible to score ARC points in the Pearl Rally. However, Virani believes he is in the best position to secure the top spot. 

“I see clear chances for us to get another podium. We were second in Kenya, where we had the same crews involved. The potential for a podium is there, and potential for a win is there as well,” he added. 

Virani takes on the challenge in a Skoda Fabia with Zahir Shah calling the pace notes. 
The Pepsi-sponsored crew had an experience of the stage during recce, and they believe the stages offer nothing to worry about. 

“The stages are fast enough. It is only part of the Charles and Mama stages that have a bit of rough patches. But it is what we are used to in Kenya. The rest of it is flat-out,” he said. 

“If we get another win from here, then we stand a good chance of going to other events,” he asserted. 

The Pearl Rally revs off with a 4.66km qualifying stage on Thursday, followed by a 3.77 kilometer shakedown at Mwesigwa Resort in Mbarara.

Rally will consist of twelve (12) stages, running a total competitive distance of 201.85. kilometres.

The post Kenya’s Aakif aiming for Pearl Rally podium to consolidate ARC title bid  appeared first on Kawowo Sports.

Continue Reading

Trending