Karan Patel and Tauseff Khan continued to assert their intent to win the Africa Rally Championship title by securing another victory in Zambia over the weekend.
The Kenyan crew started the event on a rather wrong note, rolling Ford Fiesta rally2 during a free test run in Lusaka.
They would dust themselves off after that shake and challenge for times through the rally.
From the start of the event on Saturday, Patel was neck-and-neck with local hero and reigning African champion Leroy Gomes. It was a hair-raising contention.
Patel and Gomes continued to tangle in their own battle until the Zambian hit a rock that ended his rally; handing the lead to Patel.
However, it was not a done deal for the Kenyan as he had to fend off another rival; Jas Mangat from the victory.
Heading into the penultimate stage, Patel was two minutes up on Mangat. But an intercooler issue threatened his lead.
Karan eventually took a calculative pace to secure the victory while Mangat topped all the remaining two stages.
The Kenyan registered his third consecutive and fourth ARC victory this year.
And with it, assuming the ARC lead with 120 points; nine points head second placed Jas Mangat. Yasin Nasser who retired from the event drops to third; 27 points adrift of the leader.
Despite celebrating the victory, Patel is yet to fully relish the victory.
Title rival Jas Mangat lodged an appeal on a Stewards’ decision on Sunday.
Patel was fined 500 euros for a technical breach when he competed with a broken spoiler bracket.
Mangat is seeking a time penalty instead of cash to be awarded.
However, Mangat is yet to fully complete the appeals requirements which include payment of an appeals fee of 3000 euros.
Any changes could affect the standings ahead of the final ARC round due November 10-12th in Tanzania.
Provisional ARC Drivers standings
- Karan Patel – 120 points
- Jas Mangat – 111
- Yasin Nasser – 93