Kenya National Rally Championship leader Karan Patel has attributed his maiden African Rally Championship (ARC) win to focus and consistency. The Kenyan speedster beat Zambian Champion Leroy Gomes by a massive 3:13.1minutes margin to rack up victory on volcanic ash soil stages in Naivasha on Sunday.

Navigated by Tauseef Khan in a Ford Fiesta Rally 2, Karan achieved the feat by winning four out of the possible eight stages; clocking a cumulative two-day total of  02:26:55.4 hours.

 He also won the qualifying stage of the event which counted towards the second round of the continental series and the third on the local circuit.

 It was Karan’s third successive win of the 2022 season after Il-Bisil and Mogotio, and his fifth career victory after Arusha Guru Nanak 2020 and KNRC Voi Rally 2021.

“It’s a good feeling to win the Equator Rally. I’m happy for the position because we work hard all the time to be in the prime of our career, so hard work pays off,” Karan said

Drive-shaft problems

He went on: “The competition was all good and I am happy to have our brothers from the continent competing in Kenya. The drive-shaft problems towards the last two stages of Saturday slowed us down but we were lucky to nurse the car to service and changed it to tackled leg two with a good car.” 

Zambian couple Leroy and Urshlla Gomes were happy with their maiden podium in Kenya but candidly admitted that Karan is sublimely fast.  

 “It’s exciting to see a new crop of drivers coming up in Kenya. The FIA Rally Star drivers were really quick and drove well. On our side, I think we have shown some pace on Kenyan soil and tried to chase some positions.”

“It’s was a great experience winning three stages. But then again when you come to imagine that you are not racing against all the best Kenyan drivers; I mean there is still amazing new talent here,” said Gomes. 

 Third was Jasmeet Chana in a career-best ARC finish while FIA Rally Star Driver Jeremy Wahome settled for third place. 

 Jeremy and his partner Victor Okundi regretted losing the second overall position following an early morning Service error at KWS Institute Naivasha. “Early in the morning, we checked out early out of the Service In and my silly mistake has cost us a podium position,” navigator Okundi said. 

 “It was a long and gruelling weekend with very tough volcanic ash soil stages. I am glad to score KNRC points but it is still early days for the championship which heads to Eldoret,” Chana said

 Jeremy said: “We had a good day on Saturday on the three stages. We ran a trouble-free leg. We didn’t have any issues and when everyone else had gremlins, we sailed through really well. We weren’t going slow but just being cautious. We knew, all things considered, we won’t catch Karan. Sad though that we lost the second position.”