Karan Patel stormed to a third straight Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally victory on Saturday, becoming only the second driver in history to claim three back to back wins at the iconic event after countryman Manvir Baryan.
Patel had his campaign effectively sewn up when longtime leader Samman Vohra blew a pro shaft towards the end of SS10 speed test.
Patel, with Tauseef Khan on the notes, won in Jinja in 2024 and in Mbarara in 2025 and 2026 to equal Baryan’s stellar run of 2017, 2018 and 2019.
The all important win came after a late twist on SS10 Kaguta 3, where Samman stopped with mechanical failure and lost time.
The ARC Junior Champion (Samman) had dominated the weekend, beating Patel by 1:58.3 in SS1 and 2:31.1 in SS2, and led by 5:49 after Friday’s Leg 1.
Samman was left to rue what turned out to be a second heartbreak in Uganda despite setting the pace: “We were going really well, I think, by the time we had a mechanical failure, we had a lead of 8 minutes and 2 seconds and 2 kilometres to the end of SS10, the prop shaft just blew. Freak failure; we had to stop and then drove the car on the front wheel drive. It’s rallying, an 8 minute lead reduced to nothing.”
Patel’s own rally nearly unraveled on Friday when power steering issues dropped him time, but savoured a good Saturday in the latter stages to stay in touch. When Vohra hit trouble in SS10 , Patel assumed the lead and held it to the finish.
For Vohra, it is another cruel chapter in Uganda. He retired here last year and has yet to conquer the Ugandan terrain despite setting amazing pace in the ‘land of milk and honey”.
Vohra nevertheless bounced back to claim maximum bonus points on the closing Shell V-Power Stage where he beat Karan to second!
Patel now clings to the top of the Africa Rally Championship log with 83 points after a weekend of survival with Samman ascending to second with 66 and Aakif dipping to third with 60.
Reigning African Rally Champion Yasin Nasser and home favourite came third overall followed by Aakif Virani and Jasmeet Chana.
Aakif savoured second spot untill he incurred a 5-minute penalty.
Iceman Chana was all smiles.on his Uganda debut : “The essence this weekend was to drive with our head, not to take too many risks. We would be better off though, but had power steering and drive shaft issues in Friday’s Leg 1,”
Charlie Lubega of Uganda has also won this event three times albeit not consecutively.
ROLL OF HONOUR, Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally:
- 1996: Karim Hirji/Frank Nekusa – Toyota Celica ST 185
- 1997: Chipper Adams/Justin Beyendeza – Toyota Supra
- 1998: Charles Muhangi/Steven Byaruhanga – Subaru Impreza
- 1999: Chipper Adams/Justin Beyendeza – Toyota Supra
- 2000: Charlie Lubega/Abed Musa – Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 4
- 2002: Johnny Gemmel/Robert Paisley – Subaru Impreza WRX
- 2003: Charlie Lubega/Abed Musa – Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 4
- 2004: Charlie Lubega/Abed Musa – Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 4
- 2005: Riyaz Kurji/Sayed Kadri – Subaru Impreza N10
- 2006: Riyaz Kurji/Sayed Kadri – Subaru Impreza N8
- 2007: Conrad Rautenbach/Peter Marsh – Subaru Impreza N10
- 2008: Jamie Whyte/Phil Archenoul – Subaru Impreza N10
- 2009: Riyaz Kurji/Sayed Kadri – Subaru Impreza N8
- 2010: Jamie Whyte/Phil Archenoul – Subaru Impreza N10
- 2011: Ponsiano Lwakataka/Musa Nsubuga – Subaru Impreza N8
- 2012: Mohammed Essa/Greg Stead – Subaru Impreza N12
- 2013: Jas Mangat/Gihan de Silva – Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X
- 2014: Rajbir Rai/Tim Challen – Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X
- 2015: Jaspreet Singh Chatthe/Craig Thorley – Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X
- 2016: Hassan Alwi/Enock Olinga – Subaru Impreza STi N14
- 2017: Manvir Singh Baryan/Drew Sturrock – Škoda Fabia R5
- 2018: Manvir Singh Baryan/Drew Sturrock – Škoda Fabia R5
- 2019: Manvir Singh Baryan/Drew Sturrock – Škoda Fabia R5
- 2020: Cancelled due to COVID
- 2021: Cancelled due to COVID
- 2022: Jas Mangat/Joseph Kamya – Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X
- 2023: Jas Mangat/Joseph Kamya
- 2024: Karan Patel/Tauseef Khan – KEN/KEN
- 2025: Karan Patel/Tauseef Khan – KEN/KEN
- 2026: Karan Patel/Tauseef Khan – KEN/KEN
Photo Credit: Innocent Mutaawe
