Defending African Rally Champions Yasin Nasser and Ali Katumba are set to participate in the final round of the 2026 African Rally Championship (ARC) in Morogoro, Tanzania, this weekend. The duo, who secured the championship title last year, have stated that their primary objective for the Tanzanian finale is to enjoy the drive and honour their sponsors, rather than chasing another title.
Nasser expressed his intentions before departing for Tanzania, stating that they are "just out to have fun and drive for our sponsor, Moil Tanzania." The defending champions won the African title last year by a single point over Kenya's Samman Vohra, securing a crucial bonus point in the Power Stage. This year's championship leader, Karan Patel from Kenya, is chasing another continental crown with 118 points.
Patel leads the ARC standings, 33 points ahead of fellow Kenyan Aakif Virani. His campaign has been built around a maximum-point haul in the ARC category at the WRC Safari Rally, followed by strong performances at the Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally and the Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally. Meanwhile, Uganda has a strong interest in the ARC2 battle, where Oscar Ntambi and Suzan Muwonge are targeting podium finishes.
Ntambi currently leads the ARC2 standings with 69 points, seven points ahead of Rwanda's Christian Kanangire, while Muwonge has 21 points. Both Ugandans impressed during the third round in Rwanda and will now look to finish their campaigns strongly in Tanzania. For Muwonge, the Morogoro event will be her first competitive outing in Tanzania, a country that carries mixed memories for Ugandan motorsport.
Muwonge's co-driver, Musa Nsubuga, stated that they are "definitely targeting an ARC2 podium in Tanzania." The Tanzanian National Rally Championship will also provide its own battle, with Ahmed Huwel and Manveer Birdi locked in a tight fight for the national crown. Birdi holds a seven-point advantage over Huwel heading into the final round.
The final ARC round begins on Friday, October 2, with the 2.5km Mkwawa Qualifying Stage. The day's competitive distance on Saturday will be 91.2km, featuring three runs each through Ruaha and Serengeti, followed by Mkwawa as the Super Special Stage. Sunday's stages include Kilimanjaro, the longest stage of the rally, and Ngorongoro, with both stages run twice.
The final pass through Ngorongoro will serve as the Power Stage, bringing the 2026 African Rally Championship season to a close. With ARC points doubled, the outcome of the championship and national battles will be significantly impacted. Key figures in the championship have emphasized the importance of performance in Tanzania, with Huwel's co-driver Rahim Suleiman explaining that they need to finish seven points ahead of Birdi.
Key points
- Defending champions Yasin Nasser and Ali Katumba will participate in the ARC finale in Tanzania with the goal of enjoying the drive and honouring their sponsors.
- Karan Patel from Kenya leads the ARC standings with 118 points, 33 points ahead of Aakif Virani.
- The final ARC round will feature stages in Ruaha, Serengeti, Kilimanjaro, and Ngorongoro, concluding with the Power Stage on Sunday.
