Karan Patel banking better car power to conquer Safari Rally

“We have a new Turbo and engine in the car so, definitely, there is a bit more power to utilize.”

These are the sentiments of two-time Africa Rally champion, Kenya’s Karan Patel who lead’s Kenya’s contingent to this year’s World Rally Championships (WRC) Safari Rally set for Thursday 20 to Sunday 23 March in Nairobi and Nakuru counties. 

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Patel, who is targeting a title defense in the Africa Rally Championship (ARC) admits that, while it will be a tough chase, a podium place in the WRC2 would be nice, and the new-found car power has him confident.

“We found a bit more power in our third gear which has a bit more torque and that means a better pace in Safari,” Patel says.

The Red Bull athlete won his maiden continental crown in 2023 before repeating the trick the following year.

The 2022 Kenya National Rally Championships (KNRC) champion finished ninth in the WRC 2 category in last year’s edition of the global event.

It was a marked improvement in fortunes from the previous year when he was penalised owing to an infringement by the FIA and later slapped with a fine.

“The car went through a major overhaul and after our test flight that landed smoothly, we are ready for Safari,” he added.

Patel is one of four local drivers who have benefitted from a Ksh23 million sponsorship from Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) to enhance their preparations for the four-day event. Others are youngsters Tinashe Gatimu, Evans Kavisi, and Nikhil Sachania.

In the WRC2 category, Patel goes up against Toyota’s Sami Pajari, Skoda Fabia RS rival Gus Greensmith, and Kenyan legend Carl Tundo in a Ford Fiesta.

Jeremiah Wahome, Hamza Anwar, who has upgraded from the WRC 3 class, Samman Singh, Aakif Virani, Nikhil Sachania, and Jasmeet Chana are the other Kenyans in the WRC 2 category.