Kenya's Karan Patel took a major step in the direction of reclaiming the FIA African Rally Championship (ARC) title after extending his lead with a commanding victory on the 2026 Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally on Sunday, July 12.
The triumph marked Patel's fourth profession victory in Rwanda and earned him the utmost 35 championship factors, taking his tally to 118 after three rounds of the 2026 season.
Below the ARC factors system, drivers and co-drivers obtain equivalent championship factors primarily based on their total ending positions, with the winner incomes 35 factors, second place 28 and third place 24.
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Patel arrived in Kigali with an eight-point lead within the standings after accumulating 83 factors from the opening two rounds. Nevertheless, his dominant show throughout the rally's 18 particular levels in Kigali and Bugesera noticed him considerably widen that benefit forward of the following spherical in Tanzania.
Partnered by long-time co-driver Tauseef Khan, Patel dominated Saturday's motion by profitable 10 of the 12 particular levels earlier than adopting a measured strategy on Sunday to safe the general victory by greater than seven minutes.
The outcome additional underlines his standing because the championship favorite because the sequence reaches its midway level.
Reflecting on his newest success, Patel stated competing in Rwanda at all times holds a particular place for him.
“We love Rwanda; we love coming right here,” he stated.
“It was a superb competitors with numerous good drivers and good automobiles. It wasn't simple, however we pushed the workforce, saved it protected, and did what we got here to do in Africa.”
Patel now tops the championship standings with 118 factors, opening a commanding 33-point lead over fellow Kenyan Aakif Virani, who sits second with 85 factors. Jasmeet Chana is third on 67 factors, only one forward of Samman Vohra on 66.
Nikhil Sachania occupies fifth place with 56 factors, whereas India's Naveen Puligilla climbed to sixth on 39 factors after profitable the ARC3 class in Rwanda.
Uganda's Oscar Ntambi is seventh with 38 factors, adopted by compatriot Yasin Nasser on 34. Rwanda's Christian Kanangire moved into ninth with 27 factors after claiming ARC2 honours on residence soil, whereas Tanzania's Ahmed Huwel completes the highest 10 with 24 factors.
Patel will now flip his consideration to the Mkwawa Rally in Tanzania, scheduled for October 2-4, the place he has loved appreciable success, having received the occasion in each 2022 and 2025 driving a Škoda Fabia Rally2 evo.
The Tanzanian spherical is anticipated to offer one other stern problem, with rivals together with Yasin Nasser, Samman Vohra and Ahmed Huwel all keen to chop Patel's rising championship benefit.
Regardless of holding a snug lead, Patel insists the title race stays removed from determined.
“The championship remains to be lengthy. Each rally is totally different and each level issues. There are numerous good drivers with good automobiles. We have now to maintain working exhausting as a result of the competitors retains enhancing.”
He additionally credited the robust relationship along with his workforce and co-driver as a key issue behind his continued success.
“The connection between my workforce, my co-driver and me is essential. It's like a wedding—we have to perceive one another and have good chemistry to carry out at our greatest. We'll want that once more in Tanzania, the place the competitors may also be very powerful,” Patel stated.
