KCB’s Karan Patel Ready for Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally

KCB racing team driver Karan Patel and his navigator Tauseef Khan are gearing up for a dominant performance at the Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally expected to revv off on October 18 – 20, 2024.

Karan currently sits at the apex of the African Rally Championship (ARC) leaderboard with 105 points, clear of his closest rival, Jas Mangat of Uganda, who has garnered 28 points so far, while another Kenyan driver, Hamza Anwar, is a distant third with 24 points, with two rounds to go in the current season.

Speaking ahead of the event in Rwanda, Karan said: “I want to thank KCB for always supporting us. It would not have been possible without them.

“Rwanda is like our second home. Every time we are here, we are excited to be part of the iconic competition that brings together people from different walks of life to enjoy motorsports.

“We understand this track very well and cannot wait to compete against some of the best rally drivers from around the region.”

The reigning African Rally Champion was superior in the fourth leg of the circuit held in Burundi when he clocked one hour, 44 minutes, and 45 seconds to bag the title.

The duo drives a Skoda Fabia R5 car – a car that has won them many championships.

“Our long-standing support for motorsports is geared towards giving local drivers the opportunity to participate in local, regional, and international events to position East Africa on the global map as a sporting nation.

“We are happy with Karan and Tauseef for always flying the KCB flag high across different tracks on the continent.

“We will be cheering them on from home as they take on the tough Rwandan gravel,” noted KCB Group Director Marketing and Communications Rosalind Gichuru.

Nikhil Sachania, another KCB Racing Team driver, will also be part of the action-packed weekend in Rwanda, where he will be racing for the first time in his new Skoda Fabia rally car, which he acquired following a massive KSh. 5 million boost from KCB Bank Kenya.

After the Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally, Kenya’s Equator Rally slated for November 29 to December 1 will mark the end of this season’s competition – Karan and Tauseef are looking forward to defending their African title.

The Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally, which ran as round three in 2023, opened the season, followed by events in Zambia, Tanzania, and Burundi.