Karan dominates ARC Pearl Rally Uganda as Nikhil goes back-to-back

Reigning Africa Rally champion Karan Patel racked up his maiden win of the 2025 FIA African Rally Championship (ARC) season at the Pearl of Uganda Rally on Saturday, 10 May.

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Navigated by Tauseef Khan in a Škoda Fabia R5, Karan had his campaign effectively sewn up when overnight leader and Kenyan champion Samman Vohra hit mechanical trouble.

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Samman hit a jump and damaged a suspension arm, which sent his Škoda Rally 2 into limp mode, hence his exit from this year's Pearl. He had appeared destined for a maiden international trophy on Ugandan soil, but not until his stage gremlins ended his scintillating run in an event which counted towards the second round of the FIA ARC series. 

Karan, who is going for his third straight continental title, savored his first win of the 2025 ARC season in the Western district of Uganda. Karan had retired from the first ARC round, the WRC Safari.

Meanwhile, Uganda champion Yasin Nasser and his compatriot Ali Katumba settled for second position behind the wheel of a Ford Fiesta Rally2. 

Kenyan paraplegic driver Nikhil Sachania sealed the podium in a Ford Fiesta Rally3. Third overall was fulfilling for the 2014 Kenya motorsport personality of the year, given that Nasser's Fiesta Rally2 is a far superior contraption than the Rally3. 

Sachania is enjoying top form at present after winning WRC3 and ARC3 titles on WRC Safari in March. 

The 2025 Pearl of Africa Rally championship attracted 53 entries, which included eight foreign drivers from four different countries. 

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