It was a masterclass in precision and pace as Kenya’s Samman Vohra, codriven by Drew Sturrock, delivered a near flawless performance on Day 1 of the Rwanda Mt Gorilla Rally 2025.
Piloting their ferocious Skoda Fabia Evo, the duo crushed the competition, winning 7 out of the 9 stages to close the day with a blistering time of 1:00:12.4 establishing themselves as the undeniable favorites for the rally win.
From the early morning roar to the sunset dust clouds, Vohra and Sturrock treated the Rwandan spectators to a showcase of controlled aggression and pinpoint driving. Their caution paid off handsomely, with their car in superb form from start to finish.
But while Vohra soared, tragedy struck the reigning African Rally Champions, Karan Patel and Tauseef Khan, who suffered a double blow in Stage 3 damaging both the front left of their Skoda Fabia R5 and the gearbox in one agonizing off. They are not expected to restart tomorrow, a major dent to their ARC title defense.
Rwandan fan-favourite Giancarlo Davite, with Isheja Sandrine calling the notes in their Mitsubishi EvoX, made it a proud day for the locals. Running a clean, consistent rally, they clocked 1:07:21, landing a solid 2nd place albeit 7 minutes and 9 seconds behind the pace-setting Kenyans.
In 3rd place was another Kenyan threat, Nikhil Sachania alongside Deep Patel, who piloted their Ford Fiesta R3 with surgical precision. Their time of 1:09:27 speaks of a crew that’s not just fast but calculated and they’re now poised to pounce should the leaders falter.
Uganda’s own Joshua Muwanguzi and Hamza Lwanga proved they’re not just participating they’re competing. With their Subaru Impreza N12, the pair delivered the 4th best time of 1:14:01, staying clear of trouble all day.
To wrap up the top five, Prince Charles Nyerere and Fernand Rutabingwa drove a strong day despite the challenge of opening the road. Their Mitsubishi EvoX crossed the time control at 1:16:05, earning them praise for their tidy execution.
As with any proper rally, the Rwandan gravel did not disappoint it claimed its fair share of victims. First, it was Karan Patel, who bowed out early in Stage 3 with a terminal off. Then came Yoto Fabrice, who rolled his Subaru Impreza N8 in the same stage. Isaac Sozzi, Uganda’s rising star, suffered engine failure in Stage 4, while ARC front-runners Yasin Nasser/Ali Katumba waved the white flag after mechanical woes.
Day 2 promises to be just as intense, with 94.40kms of competitive mileage divided into 3 stages: each repeated twice for a total of 6 stages. The highlight will be the 24.20km Kamabuye stage, and in a twist, all the routes will be reversed versions of the Day 1 specials shaking up pace notes and testing adaptability.
Will Vohra hold on to the lead? Can Davite mount a home soil charge? And will the gravel gods be kinder to the rest?
Stay tuned the Rwandan jungle still has stories to tell.
Day 1 – Top 6 Results
- Samman Vohra / Drew Sturrock – Skoda Fabia Evo – 1:00:12.4
- Giancarlo Davite / Isheja Sandrine – Mitsubishi EvoX – 1:07:21
- Nikhil Sachania / Deep Patel – Ford Fiesta – 1:09:27
- Joshua Muwanguzi / Hamza Lwanga – Subaru Impreza N12 – 1:14:01
- Prince Charles Nyerere / Fernand Rutabingwa – Mitsubishi EvoX – 1:16:05
- Faizal Kayira / Duncan Katumba – Subaru Impreza GC8 – 1:28:45
