Ntambi and Mohammed Deliver Strong Performance to Win ARC2
Ugandan rally driver Oscar Ntambi and co-driver Uthumaan Mohammed combined patience, skill and a healthy dose of survival instinct to claim victory in the ARC2 category at the legendary Safari Rally Kenya, one of the most unforgiving rounds of the FIA African Rally Championship.
Driving a battle-hardened Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X, the KCB Bank–sponsored crew arrived in Kenya with a simple strategy: finish first… by simply finishing. At the Safari Rally, that philosophy is often more effective than trying to drive like a superhero. While some drivers attacked the stages like they were late for a wedding, Ntambi and Mohammed treated the rally like a long-distance marriage patience, understanding, and knowing when to slow down before things break.
Right from day one, the Ugandan duo made it clear they were not interested in unnecessary drama. Instead of chasing stage wins, they tiptoed through the rough Kenyan terrain like a man carrying a tray of hot tea through a pothole-filled road. Meanwhile, around them, the Safari Rally was doing what it does best humbling drivers, breaking cars, and occasionally reminding everyone that Mother Nature is the real rally organizer.
But even the cautious approach couldn’t completely escape the rally’s mischief. On the second day, their Evo X suffered a broken driveshaft, a mechanical issue that tends to make a rally car feel like it has suddenly forgotten how to run. As if that wasn’t enough entertainment, the crew later bent their rear suspension on the infamous Kedong 1 stage a section that has a reputation for chewing up rally cars the way goats chew grass.
Instead of panicking, Ntambi and Mohammed did what experienced Safari crews do they calmly nursed the wounded car through the stage and limped back to service. Mechanics quickly went to work, performing what rally fans often call “service park surgery,” and soon the Evo X was patched up and ready to continue its dusty adventure.
From there, the Ugandan crew enjoyed a relatively smoother run to the finish at least by Safari standards, where “smooth” still means dodging rocks, ruts, dust, and the occasional wildlife spectator that forgot to buy a ticket.
By the end of the rally, Ntambi crossed the finish line 22nd overall with a total time of 5:11:08.0, roughly one hour and 55 minutes behind the rally winner. In the brutal world of Safari Rally, that result is less about how fast you go and more about how long your car agrees to stay in one piece.
Another Ugandan crew, Yasin Nasser and co-driver Ali Katumba, also fought their own battle with the Kenyan wilderness. Driving a Ford Fiesta Rally2, the pair suffered an early setback on day one that forced them to retire temporarily. Thanks to the super rally regulations, they returned the following day and clawed their way back to finish 28th overall, proving that at Safari Rally, stubbornness can sometimes be just as important as speed.
For Duncan Mubiru Kikankane, and co-driver Joseph Kamya, the rally turned into a proper survival story. Their troubles started when their car got stuck in deep mud on the opening day the kind of mud that seems to grab rally cars like it’s asking for a permanent parking arrangement. After restarting the rally, the crew later broke a rear suspension but heroically limped back to service.
Unfortunately, the Safari still had the last laugh. On the final day, a shattered windscreen forced them to retire, bringing their adventure to an early end. In Safari Rally tradition, even the toughest crews sometimes leave the rally shaking their heads and promising revenge next year.
Meanwhile, in the premier ARC1 category, Kenyan stars Karan Patel and Tauseef Khan powered their Škoda Fabia R5 to victory despite battling overheating issues throughout the rally. Their performance marked a strong comeback after a frustrating previous season.
With the opening round of the African Rally Championship now complete, attention shifts to the next event scheduled for 8–10 May 2026 in Uganda. After surviving the legendary Safari Rally, Ntambi and Mohammed will arrive at the next round with confidence and perhaps a slightly relieved Evo X that has finally escaped Kenya’s rally torture chamber.
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