Sachania targets back-to-back ARC3 titles after gritty Safari start

Nikhil Sachania and co-driver Deep Patel after a test session with their Ford Fiesta Rally3/ HANDOUT

 Paraplegic driver Nikhil Sachania has set his sights on defending his Africa Rally Category 3 (ARC3) title as the African Rally Championship season gathers momentum.

The reigning ARC3 champion heads into the 2026 campaign confident of retaining his crown, despite a demanding start at the season-opening Safari Rally Kenya.

Last season, Sachania finished third overall in the continental standings with 77 points, behind champion Yasin Nasser (135) and runner-up Samman Vohra (134). However, his consistency saw him clinch the ARC3 title, a category designed for Rally3 machinery within the FIA structure.

The ARC3 class provides a crucial development pathway in rallying, bridging the gap between top-tier Rally2 cars and the more production-based Rally4 and Rally5 categories.

This year’s championship roared into life in Naivasha before heading to Uganda for the Pearl of Africa Rally (May 7–10), followed by Rwanda’s Mountain Gorilla Rally (July 10–12) and the season-ending Mkwawa Rally in Tanzania (October 2–4).

At the gruelling Safari Rally, Sachania delivered a strong performance in his Ford Fiesta Rally3, finishing second in the WRC3 category with a cumulative time of 5:15:33.4, behind Greece’s George Vasilakis. He placed sixth in the overall ARC standings.

The rally was dominated by Karan Patel, who clocked 4:26:54.7 to take top honours, ahead of Aakif Virani and Vohra, while Jasmeet Chana and Uganda’s Oscar Ntambi completed the top five.

Despite the tough conditions, Sachania emerged on top in the ARC3 standings, ahead of Naveen Piligilla, reinforcing his credentials as the man to beat in the category.

Reflecting on the Safari, Sachania admitted it was as much about survival as it was about speed. “It was a big relief to bring the car back home,” he said.

The Kenyan endured a punishing opening phase, with mechanical issues threatening to derail his campaign before his team stepped in with a crucial overnight rebuild.

“The boys worked really hard on Friday night, and it’s awesome to be here,” he added. He described the rally as one of the toughest of his career, noting that it offered valuable lessons despite the challenges. “It has been a very, very tough rally.

"Last year was a bit forgiving, but this year, there were lots of lessons to learn,” he said, pointing to the importance of precision in car setup and preparation.

With the opening round complete, Sachania is now firmly focused on the bigger picture—retaining his ARC3 crown. “With the help of KCB, we will be able to tackle the ARC3 again, so yes, that’s on the table at the moment,” he said.

Backed by experience, resilience and a proven ability to navigate adversity, Sachania heads into the rest of the season confident of mounting another strong title defence.