Kaliisa Wins Inaugural Smoke vs Steel Motorsport Event in Jinja

What the report says

Richard Kaliisa won the inaugural Smoke vs Steel motorsport event in Jinja after combining a strong gymkhana showing with an unbeaten run in the quarter-mile drag races. The event took place at Banana Resort Beach Track over three days, from August 21 to 23, and brought together drivers competing in two formats that reward both precision and raw speed.

According to Nile Post, the weekend began with registration and mandatory safety checks on Friday, followed by gymkhana and time-trial action on Saturday. A total of 35 drivers took part. Kaliisa finished as second runner-up in the gymkhana discipline, which kept him in contention for the overall title heading into the final day.

On Sunday, he was dominant in the drag races, driving a BMW M8 Competition and staying unbeaten in the quarter-mile contests. His combined points from both disciplines were enough to secure the overall win, making him the first champion of the new event.

The Federation of Motorsport Clubs of Uganda has since added Smoke vs Steel to its calendar, giving the competition an official place in the country’s motorsport programme. In broader context, the result underscores how success in mixed-format motorsport depends on versatility, not just speed in a straight line.