African Rally Champion (ARC) Karan Patel is set to face off against rallying heavyweights this weekend at the Rallye International du Burundi, the third leg of the 2024 African Rally Championship.

The Kenyan rally ace, navigated by Tauseef Khan in their Skoda R5, aims to go all out and clinch the title.
The duo is looking to build on their impressive start to the season, having secured victories in both the Uganda and Zambia rallies.

Speaking to journalists, Karan noted, “This will be our second time competing in Burundi, and we are looking forward to a great event. We finished in first place last year, so our goal is to maintain that, although with rallying, nothing is ever guaranteed. We are preparing well—I’m staying fit, and our team manager is ensuring the car is in top condition for the race.”

The 2024 rally calendar spans four countries, with Uganda and Zambia having already hosted events. Tanzania, Rwanda and Kenya are still set to hold their competitions.

“Jas Mangat from Uganda is our biggest rival, given his skill and speed behind the wheel, but we’re ready to take him on, along with the other top drivers who are always part of this event.

Our aim is to remain at the top of the current leaderboard and demonstrate our passion, commitment, and strength in this sport,” Patel added.

Rally5-Kit cars, which can be homologated locally in collaboration with the FIA Technical Department, are now allowed for ARC events.
This exciting development enables the use of local parts and expertise to make competition more cost-effective.
Unlike last year, the Rallye Côte d’Ivoire Bandama will not host an ARC event in 2024 due to a cost-conscious calendar, having opened the 2023 season.