KCB-sponsored driver and Kenya National Rally Champion Karan Patel has set his sights on the Rwanda Mountain Gorilla triumph slated for September 22nd to 24th, the fifth edition of the African Rally Championship calendar planned for 2023.
Karan, who bagged the fourth edition of the Africa Rally Championship held in Burundi, dubbed the Rallye International du Burundi last month, is currently sitting third in the African Rally Championship (ARC) leaderboard with 60 points. Yasin Nasser from Uganda leads the band with 78 points, while Jas Mangat, also from Uganda, holds the second position with 63 points.
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Speaking ahead of the rally, Karan expressed his confidence in the rally, stating that he must aim for a top finish in the remaining legs to ensure he boosts his chances of winning the overall title.
“We are up against top drivers across Africa, and they are all battling for the top spot. We aim to win each remaining leg, close the gap with the log leader, and finally bring the ARC title to Kenya.” Karan noted.
On his part, Karan’s navigator, Tauseef Khan, added that they have been working on the car to ensure it is in good condition as they aim for a podium finish.
“In our last major competition, the WRC, we developed a mechanical problem which forced us to retire earlier. It was a disappointment, given that we had spent much time prepping the car for the stage. This time round, we believe we are all set for the race, and we are not only going for the finish, but we aim for a top finish with substantial points.”
The Rwanda Automobile Club will host the Rwanda edition, a 348.18 km stretch with six stages. The sixth leg of ARC, the Zambia International Rally, will be held in Zambia from the 20th to the 22nd of October before climaxing with the Rally of Tanzania in November.
