Fans sing happy birthday as Karan Patel launches Pearl Rally title defence

The Pearl Rally is traditionally held in early May, a date that often coincides with Patel’s May 7 birthday.

The Kenyan star was all smiles as supporters serenaded him during shakedown and the ceremonial start, adding a festive edge to his bid for more ARC points.

Patel, who was crowned Kenya National Rally Champion in 2022, arrives in Mbarara leading the 2026 African Rally Championship after a breakthrough run at WRC Safari Rally Kenya. His finish in Naivasha ended a prolonged run of retirements and put him top of the continental standings.

Fans singing for Karan K Patel today was humbling. And after flag-off, KP  is set to focus on the job — keep it clean, keep the pace, and protect his lead in Uganda's "land of milk and honey".

He starts Friday’s opening leg with navigator Tauseef Khan in a Skoda Fabia Rally2. 

Day one features five stages totalling 60km of competition, opening with SS1 Charles Muhangi 1 at 9:40am. Saturday’s route is the longest of the event with 127.92km competitive before the Shell V-Power Stage Power Stage.

With 23 ARC crews and the largest foreign entry in recent years, Patel’s birthday charge through Uganda’s “milk capital” sets the tone for round two of the ARC, as the Kenyan eyes a third African crown.