Karan Patel wins ARC Equator Rally in Voi

In a Ford Fiesta R2 ride, Africa Rally Championship (ARC) runners up Karan Patel emerged victorious in the second leg of the continental championship, Equator Rally held in Voi. 

Co-driven by Tauseef Khan, the Kenya National Rally Championship (KNRC) defending champion braved a grueling two days to of action to finish more than six minutes ahead of Yasin Nasser in the event that claimed all but nine crews. 

“It has been an intense three days of physical and mental suppression. I am happy for the win. I am also glad to halve the young drivers in the WRC Rally Star programme pushing me. They look up to me, and that serves as good motivation," Karan told Daily Nation. 

Jasmeet Chana who lost the KNRC title to Karan on the final leg of the season last year managed a podium place in third position. 

McRae Kimathi was the only finisher amongst the juniors despite driving the last stage on Saturday and Sunday’s sections using eye protection gear after the windscreen of the Ford Fiesta Rally 3 broke.

It was a painful exit for Jeremiah Wahome who was challenging for second place before his car suffered mechanical failure in the second last stage of the day. 

Hamza Anwar suffered a similar fate on Saturday, leaving Kimathi to score maximum points in the Africa Rally 3 category. 

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Results 

1.Karan Patel/Tauseef Khan, Ford Fiesta R2, 2 hours 20 minutes 59.3 seconds;

2.Yasin Nasser/Ali Katumba, Ford Fiesta R2, 2:27:19.6;

3.Jasmeet Chana/Ravinder Chana, Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 10, 2:28:58.7;

4.Jas Mangat/Joseph Kamya, Mitsubishi EVO 10, 2:29:10;

5.Izhar Mirza/Kavit Dave, Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 10, 2:32:28.0;

6.Asad Anwar/Shamir Yusuf, Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 10, 2:37:02.7;

7.Nikil Sachania/Deep Patel, Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 10, 2:39:28.2;

8.Kush Patel/Mudasar Chaudry, Subaru Impreza GC8, 2:54:32.4;

9.McRae Kimathi/Mwangi Kioni, Ford Fiesta R3, 3:24:56.4.