Patel out to reclaim African Rally crown after dream start

Two-time African rally champion Karan Patel has made a bold statement at the start of the 2026 season, setting his sights firmly on reclaiming the African Rally Championship (ARC) title.

After narrowly missing out in recent years, the Kenyan driver is determined to return to the top and reassert his dominance on the continental stage.

Patel kicked off his campaign in spectacular fashion, securing victory in the opening round of the season for the very first time in his career.

The triumph marks a significant milestone, especially after falling short in the same event across the past four editions. His strong start not only boosts his confidence but also signals his intent to mount a serious title challenge this year.

Reflecting on his journey, Patel admitted that losing the 2025 title was a tough setback but has fueled his hunger for success.

He emphasized that while the opening win is encouraging, the season remains long and demanding, requiring consistency and focus.

“Ever since I lost the championship last year, I have been trying to regain the title and I want to win in it from 2023 and 2024.

Losing in in 2025 was hard pill to swallow but we are trying to get it back in 2026 and as you can see the result in the weekend is going to help us accomplish that, but it’s a long season ahead.” Said Karan.

Behind the wheel of a Škoda Fabia Rally2 Evo, Patel is competing in both the World Rally Championship WRC2 category and the ARC.

His performance over the weekend saw him emerge as the highest-placed Kenyan, finishing an impressive 17th overall with a time of 4 hours, 26 minutes and 54.7 seconds against a competitive international field.

With momentum now on his side, Patel’s early success has reignited hopes of a Kenyan triumph in the ARC, as he embarks on what promises to be an intense and closely fought championship battle.