Naveen Puligilla and Musa Sherif Triumph at Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally

Naveen Puligilla and Musa Sherif achieved a remarkable victory at the 2026 Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally, winning the ARC3 class and finishing fourth overall. Their performance against a competitive field of 17 entries showcased their skill and teamwork. With this win, they have moved up in the ARC3 championship standings, further solidifying their place in Indian motorsport history. Discover more about their journey and the challenges they faced during this thrilling rally.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 13, 2026, 13:37 IST

Victory in the ARC3 Class

The dynamic rally team of Naveen Puligilla from Hyderabad and co-driver Musa Sherif from Kasaragod showcased an exceptional performance at the 2026 Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally, which marked the third round of the FIA African Rally Championship (ARC). Their remarkable achievement was celebrated late Sunday night as they clinched the ARC3 class title.

Impressive Overall Finish

In addition to their class victory, the duo excelled in their Ford Fiesta Rally3, which was meticulously prepared and serviced by MRU Motorsport Africa. They finished an impressive fourth overall, competing against a field of 17 entries from various countries including Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, Zimbabwe, Denmark, and India.

Challenging Conditions

"The gravel stages were both challenging and technical, yet incredibly fast. This rally has been one of the quickest I've participated in, and I am thrilled with our win," Naveen expressed after the event.

Reaching speeds close to 170 km/h, Naveen and Musa dominated the ARC3 category, winning 12 out of 18 special stages. With a comfortable lead of nearly two minutes, they strategically eased their pace in the final stages to secure their class victory, completing the rally in 2 hours, 13 minutes, and 48.3 seconds, despite facing a mapping sensor issue during one of the stages.

A Winning Team

Naveen, who is the reigning 2025 Indian National Rally Champion in the 3T class, teamed up with the experienced Musa Sherif, an eight-time Indian National Rally champion with over 34 years of experience in the sport.

"Naveen maintained speed and consistency throughout the rally, and the car performed excellently from start to finish. Winning the ARC3 class and finishing fourth overall against such a competitive field is a testament to our team's hard work," Musa commented.

Championship Standings

Following this event, Naveen and Musa have ascended to second place in the ARC3 championship standings. They previously made history in November 2025 by becoming the first all-Indian driver and co-driver duo to achieve a podium finish in any FIA World Rally Championship category, securing second place in the WRC3 class at Rally Saudi Arabia.

Rally Details and Final Results

The challenging rally took place from July 10 to 12, traversing the rugged gravel roads of Rwanda's Bugesera District. The total distance covered was 307.52 km, which included 252 km of competitive stages across 18 special stages. Karan Patel from Kenya emerged as the overall winner, followed by Tanzania's Ahmed Huwel and Kenya's Aakif Virani, while Puligilla and Sherif finished fourth overall, outperforming several higher-specification Rally2 vehicles.