Samman Vohra Clinches Rwanda Mt Gorilla Rally Crown After Karan Patel’s Early Exit

By Mwambazi Lawrence

Samman Vohra, Kenya’s reigning national rally champion, finally stepped into the continental spotlight with the finesse of a man who’d been rehearsing this moment in his sleep. At the 2025 Rwanda Mt Gorilla Rally the third round of the FIA African Rally Championship he didn’t just win, he conquered. With Briton Drew Sturrock whispering pace notes like a rallying sorcerer, the crew in their Škoda Fabia Rally2 evo took command of the event after defending ARC champion Karan Patel bowed out in dramatic fashion. One man’s heartbreak became another man’s highlight

Karan Patel and co-driver Tauseef Khan saw their title hopes crash literally on SS3 Nemba 1, as their car bowed out in dramatic fashion just 16 km into Saturday’s action. There was no comeback, no Super Rally miracle just silence and shattered dreams. With the crown left lying in the dirt, Samman Vohra scooped it up and bolted like a man possessed, never once looking back.

An ecstatic Samman went on to beat his closest challenger, fellow Kenyan Nikhil Sachania, by a staggering 14 minutes to seize the Rwanda ARC title previously held by Karan for three consecutive years. It was sweet redemption for Samman, who had suffered a painful retirement during the Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally in May after his Skoda suffered a broken front control arm from a heavy jump on SS6.

But in Busegera, Rwanda, it was a different story. Samman was untouchable, wrapping up his ARC campaign in style by winning the final Power Stage SS15 Ruhuha 2 (15.30 km) earning him additional bonus points and a standing ovation from fans and competitors alike. The Power Stage, introduced in the ARC this year, mirrors the World Rally Championship’s (WRC) final-stage bonus points system and has quickly become a fan favorite.

The rally, which wound through the tranquil hills near the Rwanda-Burundi border, was not short on drama. Uganda’s Yasin Nasser, back in action after boost-related woes forced him out on Day 1, fought back to finish fourth overall on the special stages. Rwandese rally icon Giancarlo Davite, 62, rolled back the years to win the National category ahead of Uganda’s Joshua Mwanguzi. Davite, a two-time Gorilla Rally winner (2013, 2018), proved he’s still got the grit and throttle control to challenge the best.

The action had begun on Friday with a shakedown and qualifying stage held at the Kigali Convention Centre. Fans packed the stands as Karan set the early pace in his Rally2 Škoda, but his early promise was tragically short-lived.

The weekend also delivered a historic double celebration for Kenya as Nikhil Sachania sealed back-to-back wins in the ARC3 category driving his M-Sport prepared Ford Fiesta Rally3, while Tanzanian Prince Charles Nyerere scooped the ARC2 honours with a third-place overall finish in the ARC standings.

However, it wasn’t a fairy tale for everyone. Kenya’s fearless mother-and-daughter duo, Tinashe and Carol Gatimu, saw their promising run come to a screeching halt on SS13 Kamabuye 2 (24.20 km), when their car decided it had seen enough rally for one weekend. After steadily climbing the ranks and sitting 11th overall at the end of SS12, the pair were on the brink of making history as the first Kenyan female family crew to finish an international rally. But motorsport, ever the heartbreaker, had other plans and their dreams were parked just a stage too soon.

As the dust finally settled at Nemba Service Park and champagne corks popped in Samman’s service area, one thing was clear: the Skoda man had not only conquered Rwanda, but had also reinvigorated the African rallying landscape.

From the ashes of Pearl came the rise of a champion Samman Vohra, take a bow.

Rwanda Mt Gorilla Rally 2025 results

ARC

1.Samman Vohra/ Drew Sturrock (Ken)- 1:48:59

2.Nikhil Sachania/ Deep Patel (Ken)- 2:03:39

3.Prince Nyerere/ Fernand Rutabingwa (TZD)- 2:16:36

4.Yasin Nasser / Ali Katumba (UG)- 2:38:58

NRC

                1.Giancarlo Davite/ Isheja Sandrine (Rw) =2:00:3

               2.Muwanguzi Joshua/ Hamza Lwanga (UG)=2:13:14

                3.Faizal Kayira/ Duncan Katumba (UG)= 2:54:51

                4.Mike Rutuku/ Gaserabwe Alain (RW)=3:09:12

                5.Queen Kalimpinya / Ngabo Olivier (RW)=3:12:09

                6. Yoto Fabrice/ Ruzindana Axel (RW)=3:38:42

                 7. Hakizimana Jack/ Semana Ish Kevi (Rw)=4:05:38

About The Author