Central Motor Club (CMC) has dedicated the 6th round of the National Rally Championship to the late Rajiv Ruparelia. The event, officially named the Rajiv Ruparelia Memorial Rally, is scheduled to take place on October 9- 12 in Gulu.
Shyam Kotecha, the Central Motor Club president says that Rajiv was a founder of central motor club in 2015 and it is always good to remember the fallen drivers.
“He is gone too soon and he is always in our hearts. He is the one who told us and motivated us to do the rally outside Kampala – choosing Gulu as the venue, which rally came off successful,” noted Shyam.
“We shall do a CSR as part of the memorial rally and perhaps a borehole which he always cherished to do for communities,” he revealed.
Enoch Leroy Olinga, the Clerk of the Course, who navigated for the late, says that as a club it is important to honor him.
“The family was on board and there was no objection. The nature of the place, culture of the people and roads attracted us to Gulu. Most of the stages have been named in memory of anything he (Rajiv) did for passion in rallying,” he noted.
Gulu City mayor Alfred Okwonga expressed gratitude to the organisers for choosing Gulu city as the venue for honoring Rajiv.
“The memorial rally adds to the many efforts we are undertaking to make Gulu a tourism city,” he said.
Reynolds Kibira, the Federation of motorsport clubs of Uganda (FMU) General Secretary encouraged drivers and fans to ensure safety in the memory of Rajiv who perished in a nasty road accident.
The rally ace and businessman passed away in a car accident on May 3, 2025 at the Busabala Flyover in Wakiso District when his posh Nissan GTR hit temporary road barriers before overturning and catching fire.
