JINJA, Uganda — Kaliisa Richard emerged as the overall winner of the inaugural Smoke vs Steel motorsport event, combining a strong gymkhana performance with an unbeaten run in the drag races at Banana Resort Beach Track in Jinja.
The three-day motorsport spectacle, held from 21–23 August 2026, brought together drivers competing across two disciplines — gymkhana/time trial and quarter-mile drag racing — in a weekend that tested both precision and outright speed.
The event opened on Friday with registration and mandatory safety checks for participating cars and drivers. A total of 35 drivers registered for the competition, setting the stage for a weekend of high-speed action.
Saturday’s programme focused on gymkhana and time-trial competition, where drivers were required to balance speed with accuracy and car control. Kaliisa collected valuable championship points from the discipline, finishing as second runner-up and keeping himself firmly in contention for the overall crown.
It was on Sunday, however, that the driver and his BMW M8 Competition came into their own.
Kaliisa was undefeated in the quarter-mile drag races, producing the kind of straight-line pace that would ultimately prove decisive in the overall standings. His combination of points from the gymkhana and dominance in the drag competition lifted him to the top of the event classification.
“The victory was not only about taking the inaugural overall honours but also about putting on a show for the fans who turned up to witness the action. I promise my supporters even more excitement when the drivers return for the next edition,” a jubilant Kaliisa said as he celebrated the win.
The overall victory underlined the importance of versatility in motorsport. While drag racing rewards acceleration, launch performance and the ability to maintain speed over a short distance, gymkhana demands precision, braking control, quick changes of direction and consistency. Kaliisa’s ability to score strongly in both disciplines gave him the edge over his rivals.
The Smoke vs Steel event also marked an important development for Ugandan motorsport, with the Federation of Motorsport Clubs of Uganda (FMU) subsequently adding the event to its calendar. The move gives Smoke vs Steel a place within the country’s organised motorsport programme and provides a platform for competitors to continue testing themselves across different forms of competition.
With his BMW M8 Competition proving capable of both precision work and explosive quarter-mile performance, Kaliisa leaves Jinja as the first overall winner of Smoke vs Steel — and one of the drivers to watch as the event establishes itself on Uganda’s motorsport calendar.
