When the Cabinet Secretary for Youth, Creative Economy, and Sports, Hon. Salim Mvurya, recently awarded Nikhil Sachania his ARC3 Championship Title, it ignited an even greater determination in him to charge into the Safari Rally and return home with yet another trophy.
Sachania, who bagged the WRC3 title at the 2025 Safari Rally, will be banking on his Ford Fiesta Rally 3 car to battle against some of the biggest names in motorsport from East Africa and around the world. He is set to test the car this weekend at Stoni Athi as he prepares for the grueling race set for March 12-15 in Naivasha, Nakuru County.
“We are aiming to defend our title this year. The competition is strong, and we know it won’t be easy. Our focus is on thorough mental and physical preparation, while also ensuring the car is in peak condition ahead of the rally. Above all, our primary objective is to complete the rally,” Sachania said in an interview.
As the only paraplegic driver in the World Rally Championship (WRC), he recently joined the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) Accessibility and Disability Commission as a member, where he has been giving the team his input from the perspective of a disabled driver based in Africa
“I hope my insights can help other drivers around the world, especially those living with disabilities, to believe that there is space for them in this sport. If my experience can contribute to making rallying more inclusive and accessible, then I am proud to play that part,” he added.
Sachania will be joining the star-studded KCB racing team, which includes two-time African Rally Champion Karan Patel, fast-rising youngster Tinashe Gatimu, Uganda’s Oscar Ntambi, and Rwanda’s Queen Kalimpinya.
With the introduction of new stages, he believes that it will be ‘fun’ to drive, but more importantly, to keep the car intact. Safari Rally is notorious for its unforgiving terrain, particularly Kedong’s fesh fesh, where thick dust and hidden ruts test both machine and driver.
It is a section that has undone many competitors, as visibility drops and precision becomes everything. The addition of new stages only heightens the intrigue, injecting fresh excitement into an event already renowned as one of the toughest on the calendar, even for the world’s best drivers.
Top local drivers have made strong entries to the iconic event, with Carl Tundo, a five-time Safari Rally champion (during its WRC hiatus), the most recognized.
Two-time Africa Rally Champion Karan Patel, current junior ARC champion Samman Singh Vohra, and last year’s WRC 3 winner Nikhil Sachania are other big Kenyan entries.
The ladies are also well represented, with local favorites, Tinashe Gatimu returning with her mum, Caroline Gatimu, in a Ford Fiesta Rally4, which will score towards ARC3.
Pauline Shegu and Linet Ayuko have also entered a Subaru, with Nairobi-based lady driver Lisa Cristoferssen also in the mix.
Away from the adrenaline of motorsport, Sachania, together with his fellow KCB Racing Team drivers, has been unwinding and sharpening team chemistry on the padel court.
