Current ACR 3 champion, paraplegic rally driver Nikhil Sachania, is gearing up to defend his WRC 3 title at the upcoming WRC Safari Rally, scheduled for March 12–15, 2026, in Naivasha.
Speaking in Nairobi on Friday, the capital-based driver said he is almost ready to hit the dusty roads of Kenya, with his Ford Fiesta Rally3 undergoing final preparations.
"We are almost there. The car is ready, just a few final adjustments before the rally. It's the same car we used last season, when we won the WRC 3 category. We hope to push for the same this year, although it will be more challenging with more competitors on board," said Sachania.
Despite his physical challenges, the fearless driver believes some of the visitors have more experience, but he is banking on his local knowledge to give him an edge.
"We are also in contention for the overall ARC title. It's a new season, and a lot can happen in rallying. Our main goal is to remain consistent and clean," he added.
The reigning ARC3 Champion is keen to build on lessons from last year’s Safari Rally, where he won the WRC 3 category, came fifth in the ARC, and first in ARC3.
"Last year, we had a close chance to win the overall title, but our commitment and life circumstances weren’t in our favor. We finished the Safari event, won WRC 3, and that’s a huge motivation to defend that win this year."
With the support of KCB, Sachania is confident of replicating last year’s performance, emphasizing the strong chemistry with his navigator, Deep Patel. The duo, friends and colleagues, have been together for about seven years.
"We trust each other in the car, and we’ll have some test drives in the coming weeks to fine-tune our skills," Sachania assured.
