Kevin Bebeto Arms Himself with an Evo 9 For The 2026 NRC Season
By Mwambazi Lawrence
The 2026 season has not yet dropped its first flag, but the shockwaves are already being felt across the service parks of Uganda. Kevin Bebeto Simba Rally Team’s fast-rising young gun has sent a loud message by upgrading to a Mitsubishi Evo 9. This is not just a change of car; it is a declaration of intent. After capturing hearts and headlines last season in a Subaru Impreza N10, Bebeto has made it clear that he is no longer content with being “promising.” He is preparing to be powerful, precise, and potentially problematic for anyone standing between him and the podium.
Last season, the young driver proved he was more than just hype. Driving the Subaru Impreza N10, he delivered performances that had fans running to stage ends early just to catch a glimpse of his attack mode. His 3rd-place finish in the CRC class was not handed to him it was earned through grit, pace, and the kind of bravery that makes spectators step back from the tape. But as every rally driver knows, success brings elevation. Promotion to Division 2 of the NRC followed, and with that promotion came a simple question: if the competition is getting tougher, shouldn’t the machine get tougher too?
Enter the Mitsubishi Evo 9 a car with serious rally pedigree. This particular machine previously belonged to Kenya’s Alastair Cavanagh before making its way into the hands of Tanzanian champion Dharam Pandya. In rally terms, that’s like inheriting a lion that has already hunted across East Africa. It knows gravel. It understands punishment. And most importantly, it knows how to fight. Now, that same Evo 9 is headed to Kampala, where it is expected to arrive tomorrow, ready to wear Simba Rally Team colours and roar on Ugandan soil.
The acquisition also strengthens Simba Rally Team’s firepower significantly. The team now boasts two Evo 9 machines, with the second belonging to Kuku Ranjit formerly owned by Tanzanian champion Gerald Miller. Two Evo 9s in one camp is not just depth; it is strategy. It means data sharing, setup comparisons, and a serious statement that Simba Rally Team is not here to make up numbers in 2026. They are here to hunt points, stages, and perhaps even championships.
Bebeto’s journey makes this moment even more compelling. He began his rally career in 2023 in a Toyota Runx a modest starting point that taught him the basics of survival and stage discipline. In 2025, he stepped up to the Subaru Impreza N10 and immediately began driving like a man with unfinished business. Now, stepping into the more powerful and stable Evo 9, he enters a new chapter one where expectations are higher, the speeds are faster, and mistakes become more expensive. But if his progression is anything to go by, he has shown that he grows with every challenge thrown his way.
All eyes will now turn to the season opener, the MPU Mbale City Rally 2026 scheduled for 27th–28th March 2026. That is where the Evo 9 is set to make its competitive debut. Mbale’s rocky terrain has humbled many before, and Division 2 will be stacked with fresh machines and hungry drivers. But in rallying, momentum is everything and right now, momentum seems to be sitting firmly in the Simba camp.
Make no mistake: this is more than an upgrade. It is evolution. It is ambition translated into horsepower. It is a young driver refusing to wait his turn. When the dust rises in Mbale and the turbo whistles echo through the hills, the NRC will not just be racing another competitor they will be facing a driver who has grown, a team that has strengthened, and an Evo 9 that has already proven it knows how to win.
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