- Karan Patel won with a margin of 13 seconds
- His victory sends the ARC title fight to the wire
- Hamza Anwar completed a podium finish
Kenya’s Karan Patel edged out Zambia’s Leroy Gomes to win the Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally and send the Africa Rally Championship (ARC) title fight down to the wire.
In the penultimate rally of the season, Patel pushed his Ford Fiesta Rally2 car to secure victory by a 13.21 seconds margin. He had bounced back in the final day of the rally on Sunday to take control of the race after battling a series of engine problems earlier Saturday.
“I feel delighted to have secured this victory. Of course it was tough but happy to win,” Patel said after the race.
The Kenyan series leader had trailed Gomes by 13 seconds at the end of Saturday, but Sunday proved to be a lucky day for him as he clocked seven fastest times to ensure he took a grip on the race to edge out the Zambian for second.
Gomes was hoping to seal the coveted title in Rwanda but following Karan’s spirited fightback, the title will now be decided on his home soil in the season-closing Zambia International Rally.
Hamza Anwar seals podium finish
Sealing the podium dash in an impress Ford Fiesta rally3 drive was Kenya’s youngster Hamza Anwar clocked 1h21m21s.
Hamza was all smiles and here’s what he had to say about his podium finish:
“Quite a great feeling today in the Fiesta. We maintained a steady pace behind the Rally2s of Karan and Gomes which were really fast. Posting four second fastest times and a couple of third fastest times is a clear indication that we have now come to grips with the car.”
Following a dry and dusty morning run, crews had to contend with a wet second loop occasioned by heavy afternoon downpour.
Uganda’s Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X speedster Jas Mangat settled for fourth incidentally with three fastest times on SS1, SS3 and SS10.
After five rounds of brilliant displays, Gomes still leads the ARC Champonship with 126 points against Karan’s 105.
All the five Kenyan drivers enlisted for the Rwanda Automobile Club (RAC) organsised round 5 survived the demanding consitions.
Jeremiah Wahome wrapped up is Rwanda debut in a credible fith position clocking 1h22m30s.
“We have had no issues. It has been straight forward. We were much closer to the guys ahead today, I don’t know if we are pushing more or less but we have enjoyed our debut in Rwanda,” Jeremiah said.
PROVISIONAL CLASSIFICATION -RWANDA MOUNTAIN GORILLA RALLY 2022
1 (#107) Karan Patel (KEN) / Tauseef Khan (KEN) (Ford Fiesta R5) 01:19:40.3
2 (#106) Leroy Gomes(ZMB) / Urshlla Gomes (ZMB) (Ford Fiesta R5) 01:19:53.5
3 (#102) Hamza Anwar (KEN) / Adna Din(KEN) (Fod Fiesta R3) 01:21:21.8
4 (#108) Jas Mangat(UGA) / Joseph Kamya(UGA) ( Mitsubishi Lancer) 01:22:07.4
5 (#105) Jeremiah Wahome (KEN) / Victor Okundi (Ford Fiesta R3) 01:22:30.0
6 (#104) McRae Kimathi (KEN) / Mwangi Kioni (KEN) (Ford FiestaR3) 01:23:22.3
7 (#109) Duncan Mubiru(UGA) / Mussa Nsubuga(UGA) (Ford Fiesta Proto) 01:23:32.3
8 (#4) Jonas Kansiime (UGA) / Ivan Tushabe (UGA) (Mitsubishi Lancer) 01:29:39.0
9 (#103) Maxime Wahome (KEN) / Murage Waigwa (Ford Fiesta R3) 01:31:59.5
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