Karan Patel rules over at Pearl of Africa Rally in jinja ARC championsip

Karan Patel, the reigning Africa rally champion, emerged victorious in the Pearl of Africa Uganda, marking the opening round of the African Rally Championship.

The Kenyan driver showcased his prowess, maintaining a commanding lead over his closest rival, Uganda’s Jas Mangat, throughout the rally, culminating in a triumphant finish on Sunday.

Partnered with co-driver Taussef Khan in the Skoda Fabia, Patel swiftly recovered from an early setback in the first stage on Saturday, swiftly gaining momentum and dominance as the rally progressed. Out of the nine stages covered, the Kenyan crew secured an impressive eight stage wins, underscoring their remarkable performance.

Reflecting on his victory, Patel expressed satisfaction with the race conditions, noting the absence of rain, which played to their advantage. Despite an initial hiccup, Patel remained focused, determined to minimize errors, a strategy evident in their consistent stage times.

Adding to his triumph, Patel clinched victory in the power stage, maximizing his points and igniting his pursuit for a second ARC title. He attributed his success to his dedicated team, particularly acknowledging the pivotal role played by his father in overseeing team operations.

Meanwhile, Jas Mangat of Uganda, driving a Hyundai i20, secured a commendable second position, finishing 1 minute and 42.7 seconds behind Patel. Kenya’s Hamza Anwar completed the ARC podium in third place.

In the national category, Ronald Sebuguzi claimed second position behind Jas Mangat, securing fourth place overall in the rally.

Looking ahead, the next ARC event is set to take place in Zambia from July 26th to 28th, promising another exhilarating chapter in the championship.