Kenyan rally driver Karan Patel has significantly reduced the lead of Uganda’s Yasin Nasser in the 2023 FIA African Rally Championship (ARC) to just three points, setting the stage for an intense battle with two events remaining in Zambia and Tanzania.
Patel, the reigning Kenyan champion, displayed his dominance at the event in Rwanda, clinching back-to-back victories after his win the previous year. Guided by compatriot Tauseef Khan in his trusty Ford Fiesta Rally 2, Karan has enhanced his prospects of regaining the title he narrowly missed out on to Zambian Leroy Gomes in the final stages of the previous season.
This Kenyan speedster is determined to secure his maiden African title, building on his second-place finish in the continental series last year, a season in which he also secured his first Kenya National Rally Championship.
Despite skipping the Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally, Karan has made a remarkable comeback with his signature thrilling performances. His third victory in the continental series, following wins in the Equator Rally Kenya, Burundi, and Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally, has brought him within striking distance of the coveted championship.
The runaway leader, Yasin Nasser, faced setbacks on Day One but reentered the event during the Super Rally to salvage crucial points and stay in the title hunt. In Rwanda, Karan’s exceptional performance earned him maximum points, narrowing the gap to the championship leader to just three points, with a total of 90 points.
Uganda’s Jas Mangat, making his debut in a Hyundai i20 rally car, secured second place overall. Mangat currently occupies the third position in the ARC standings, trailing the leader by six points and Karan Patel by three.
Karan Patel’s relentless pursuit of success propelled him to victory in Rwanda, where he outpaced Uganda’s Mangat by a margin of 16 seconds. Kenya’s Junior WRC and WRC3 contender for 2023, Hamza Anwar, claimed the third overall position.
Furthermore, Hamza’s third-place finish in Rwanda also secured him victory in the ARC Junior category, improving his chances of defending his title and enhancing his prospects in the ARC2 category. Tanzanian Prince Charles Nyerere finished fourth, followed by Innocent Bwamiki in fifth place in the ARC category. The next ARC event is scheduled for October 20-22 in Zambia.
Meanwhile, the next round of the Kenya National Rally Championship (KNRC) Series is set for October 7-8, centred around Il Bisil.
Jasmeet Chana, known as Iceman, leads the 2023 Kenya National Rally Championship with 171 points, with three rounds remaining, while Jeremiah Wahome is now on 86 points.
