By Mwambazi Lawrence
Samman Vohra, Kenya’s reigning national rally champion, finally had his moment of glory on the continental stage after clinching a dominant victory at the 2025 Rwanda Mt Gorilla Rally, the fourth round of the FIA African Rally Championship (ARC). Navigated by Scotsman Drew Sturrock in a Škoda Fabia Rally2 evo, Samman took full control of the event following a dramatic exit of defending ARC champion and compatriot Karan Patel.
Karan, together with co-driver Tauseef Khan, retired on Saturday morning after crashing out on the 16.0 km SS3 Nemba 1 stage. The pair didn’t restart under Super Rally rules on Sunday, effectively ending any hopes of defending their crown. Karan’s misfortune opened the floodgates for Samman, who never looked 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.
However, the situation changed in Busegera, Rwanda. 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. This year, the ARC introduced the Power Stage, which mirrors the World Rally Championship’s (WRC) final-stage bonus points system and quickly became a fan favourite.
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.
Nikhil Sachania, driving his M-Sport-prepared Ford Fiesta Rally3, secured back-to-back wins in the ARC3 category over the weekend, while Tanzanian Prince Charles Nyerere secured the ARC2 honours with a third-place overall finish in the ARC standings.
However, not everything turned out as expected. Kenya’s mother-and-daughter duo, Tinashe and Carol Gatimu, were forced into early retirement after their car bowed out on SS13 Kamabuye 2 (24.20 km). The pair had been performing steadily and were lying 11th at the end of SS12 before misfortune dashed their hopes of becoming the first Kenyan female family crew to finish an international rally.
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 the Ugandan Pearl of Africa, Samman Vohra emerged as a champion; congratulations.
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
