Vohra Targets Arc Glory 2026

After falling agonisingly short of the African Rally Championship title by a single point last season, Samman Vohra has wasted no time reigniting his title ambitions, signalling a determined push for continental glory in 2026.

The 2025 standings told a story of heartbreak for the Kenyan, who amassed 134 points to finish second, just one behind Uganda’s Yasin Nasser, who clinched the crown with 135.

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Nikhil Sachania completed the podium with 77 points in a season defined by razor-thin margins. With unfinished business firmly in focus, Vohra has maintained an aggressive yet calculated approach heading into the new campaign. “We will not change our approach, just flat out, be quick, stay cautious and bag as many wins as we can this year,” he said.

Last season, Vohra launched his title bid with a podium finish at the Safari Rally, clocking 3:19:19.6 to secure third in the ARC classification. Veteran Carl Tundo topped the standings, with Jeremiah Wahome finishing second. The championship then shifted to Uganda, where Karan Patel claimed victory ahead of Nasser and Sachania.

Vohra, however, responded emphatically, taking control of his campaign with a commanding win at the Mountain Gorilla Rally in Rwanda, before following it up with another victory in Burundi. His consistency kept him firmly in the title fight.

At the Mkwawa Rally in Tanzania, Patel again showed his pace, edging Vohra into second in a tightly contested finish. Fast forward to 2026, and Vohra has already made his intentions clear with a strong showing at the season-opening Safari Rally in Naivasha. Clocking 4:46:47.1, he secured third place in the ARC standings, behind Patel and Aakif Virani.

“We look forward to the rest of the year to put on a strong charge for the African championship,” Vohra affirmed.

The Safari Rally once again lived up to its reputation as one of the toughest events on the calendar, pushing both drivers and machines to their limits. “This was the start of our 2026 ARC title campaign. It’s been one of the toughest rallies I’ve ever done,” he admitted.

“Every stage demanded everything from us. We had some unfortunate moments.” At one stage, his campaign appeared all but over. But in true Safari fashion, Vohra and his crew mounted a remarkable comeback. “Thursday was the toughest day—we drove 12km blind, using the trees to read the road,” he recalled.

“Friday, we retired at Kedong after damaging the front right suspension. But over the weekend, we gave it one big push and climbed from position 12 to third.”

The recovery drive not only salvaged crucial points but also underscored Vohra’s resilience and championship credentials.

“It’s been tough, but heartfelt gratitude to our team, our sponsors, and the Vohra Group. This is for them,” he said.