© KCB
© KCB

Sachania riding on Mountain Gorilla victory in chase for ARC title

Reading Time: 2min | Mon. 14.07.25. | 14:52

Action moves to Burundi, Tanzania in August and September for the closing two rounds

Kenya's trailblazing paraplegic driver Nikhil Sachania believes winning the ARC3 class at the just-concluded Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally is a testament to the hard work, resilience, and teamwork that have gone into every rally. 

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Nikhil has since termed the experience "an incredibly challenging, but rewarding outing”, saying it puts the crew in real contention for the overall Africa Rally Championships (ARC), “which is incredibly exciting.”

The driver says that as a paraplegic, every rally is a reminder that disability is not inability, and hopes his performance inspires others to keep pushing their limits.

With two rallies to go, Nikhil remains confident. The penultimate round of the ARC heads to Burundi on the weekend of Friday, 15 to Sunday, 17 August, after which crews will embark on the season’s closing Rally of Tanzania on Friday, 19 to Sunday, 21 September.

“We have shown that consistency and determination can take us far, and we are ready to keep pushing for the top.

I am proud to be representing not only my team and sponsors, but also to be flying the flag for inclusive motorsport across Africa," added Nikhil, who made history as the first driver from the continent to win the WRC3 support category at WRC Safari Rally in March. 

After three rounds held in Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda, Ugandan speedster Yasin Nasser headlines the standings on 86 points, nine more than Sachania. Overall winner in Rwanda, Samman Vohra, is third on the rankings with 71 points.

Samman chalked up his maiden ARC victory, beating Sachania to second whilst Tanzanian Prince Charles Nyerere took third, with Nasser fourth. 

Navigated by Briton Drew Sturrock behind the wheel of a Škoda Fabia Rally2 Evo, the reigning Kenya champion had his campaign effectively sewn up when compatriot and defending African champion Karan Patel crashed out in the mid-morning stages of Saturday’s Leg 1. 

Karan and his partner Tauseef Khan retired in Saturday’s 16.0 km SS3 Nemba1 speed-test but did not restart on Super Rally on Sunday. 


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Nikhil SachaniaAfrica Rally Championship

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