ARC defending champion Karan Patel withdraws from Burundi Rally
Defending African Rally Championship (ARC) champion Karan Patel will not participate in the upcoming Burundi Rally, dealing a blow to fans who anticipated another thrilling showdown between him and his closest rival, Samman Singh Vohra. The announcement comes just days before the highly anticipated event, where many expected Patel to battle for redemption against Vohra, who has emerged as a formidable contender this season.
Twists and turns
In an emotional social media post, Patel revealed that his team was forced to withdraw due to unresolved mechanical issues with their car. Patel’s 2024 ARC campaign has been a rollercoaster. He clinched victory at the Pearl of Africa Rally after Vohra retired, only to suffer a similar fate at the Mountain Gorilla Rally in Rwanda, where Vohra capitalized on Patel’s misfortune to claim the win.
Vohra’s dominance in Rwanda
Vohra, navigated by Briton Drew Sturrock in a Škoda Fabia Rally2 Evo, dominated the Rwanda event after Patel’s dramatic exit. Patel and co-driver Tauseef Khan crashed out on SS3 (Nemba 1) and did not restart under Super Rally rules, effectively ending their hopes of retaining the title. Seizing the moment, Vohra delivered a commanding performance, finishing a staggering 14 minutes ahead of Kenya’s Nikhil Sachania to claim his first ARC victory of the season.
Current ARC standings
With Patel out of contention in Burundi, the championship battle intensifies among the remaining frontrunners:
– Yasin Nasser (Uganda) – 86 pts
– Nikhil Sachania (Kenya) – 77 pts
– Samman Singh Vohra (Kenya) – 71 pts
– Carl Tundo (Kenya) – 50 pts
– McRae Kimathi (Wahome) (Kenya) – 42 pts
– Karan Patel (Kenya) – 35 pts
As the ARC season heats up, all eyes will be on whether Vohra can capitalize on Patel’s absence to challenge Nasser for the championship lead.
