Rwandan rally driver Queen Kalimpinya is preparing to make her debut at the Safari Rally Kenya, marking her first international competition after building her career in Rwanda’s national championship circuit. The entry comes through the KCB Racing Team, which she said has enabled her to take on the event, described in the statement as one of the most demanding fixtures on the rally calendar.

Kalimpinya, who is based in Kigali, is the defending champion in the Rwanda National Rally Championship, according to the statement. Her participation adds to the growing number of East African drivers using the Safari Rally platform to expand regional motorsport visibility and attract sponsorship, mechanics and logistics work linked to rally operations in Kenya.

The Safari Rally has become a significant event for Kenya’s hospitality, transport and automotive services sectors, drawing teams that require local supply chains and technical support across rally routes and service parks. Participation by regional drivers also strengthens cross-border sporting ties within the East African Community, where motorsport is increasingly viewed as both an entertainment product and a commercial activity tied to brand partnerships.

Kalimpinya’s route into rallying began after earlier public exposure in Rwanda’s beauty pageant scene, where she placed 3rd Runner-Up at the Miss Rwanda pageant in 2017, the statement said. She later shifted into motorsport, initially competing as a co-driver before moving into the driver’s seat.

In remarks included in the statement, Kalimpinya described her entry into the sport as gradual before becoming a serious pursuit. “At first, it was simply about trying something new and having fun,” she said. “But the more I learned about the sport and experienced the adrenaline of rallying, the more determined I became to pursue it seriously.”

She also attributed her Safari Rally opportunity to external backing, citing the cost of competing. “When I received the call, I honestly couldn’t believe it,” Kalimpinya said. “Competing in the Safari Rally and other international events has always been a dream. Motorsport requires significant financial resources, and opportunities like this don’t come easily. Thanks to KCB Racing Team, that dream is beginning to take shape.”

For the Safari Rally, Kalimpinya will be partnered with co-driver Olivier Ngabo, whom the statement described as a professional mechanic and mechanical engineering specialist with experience in transportation and car hire services. Ngabo was part of the 2025 Rwanda National Rally Championship-winning crew and won Best Co-Driver of the Year in 2019, according to the statement. The pair have worked together for three years.

They will also compete with an upgraded car, moving from a Subaru GC8 to a Subaru Impreza WRX STI GVB. Kalimpinya said the car has been tested across different terrains to prepare for the rally stages. “The car feels great, and the team has worked extremely hard on the preparation,” she said. “We believe it is ready for the challenge ahead.”

In terms of targets, Kalimpinya said her focus as a first-time entrant is to finish the rally without major issues while remaining competitive, with trophies positioned as an additional ambition.

For Kenya’s motorsport industry, her participation underscores the role of team sponsorships and structured support programmes in enabling regional talent to enter high-cost events. It also highlights a continued shift toward professionalisation—where driver-co-driver stability, engineering capability and vehicle preparation are critical to performance and safety outcomes.

Next steps will include final logistics and compliance preparations ahead of the Safari Rally start, with Kalimpinya and Ngabo expected to compete under the KCB Racing Team banner as they seek to complete the event and evaluate opportunities for further international rallies, as suggested in her remarks.