Samman Vohra wins Mt. Gorilla Rally
Samman Vohra in a Scorda Farbia R5
Samman Vohra dramatically reignited his Africa Rally Championship (ARC) title hopes with a commanding victory at the Mountain Gorilla Rally in Rwanda this past weekend.
The reigning Kenyan champion, driving a Škoda Fabia, dominated the event with blistering pace. Vohra and co-driver Drew Sturrock won every single stage, securing victory by a massive margin of 14 minutes and 40 seconds.
Vohra’s task was made easier as his main championship rivals encountered significant problems. Title leader Yasin Nasser (Uganda) retired his Ford Fiesta Rally2 on day one with a mechanical issue. Although the Ugandan crew restarted under Rally2 regulations and fought back to finish fourth, earning valuable points, they missed out on a podium finish.
Taking second place in Rwanda was Nikhil Sachania in a Ford Fiesta Rally3. This strong result keeps him second in the overall ARC standings, now just nine points behind Nasser.
Tanzania’s Prince Charles Nyerere rounded out the podium in third position, securing his first championship points of the season.
Meanwhile, reigning ARC champion Karan Patel’s title defense suffered another blow. He retired on the opening leg, marking his second non-finish of the season and severely denting his chances of a third African crown.
Championship Implications:
Vohra and Sturrock’s flawless performance vaults them into third place in the ARC standings with 71 points. They now sit just 15 points behind leader Yasin Nasser (86 points) and within striking distance of second-placed Nikhil Sachania (77 points).
Drivers’ ARC Standings (After Rwanda):
Driver Points
Yasin Nasser (UGA) 86
Nikhil Sachania (KEN) 77
Samman Vohra (KEN) 71
Carl Tundo (KEN) 50
Jeremiah Wahome (KEN) 46
Karan Patel (KEN) 35
The battle for the African title continues at the next ARC round, scheduled for 15-17 August in Burundi.
