KCB Rally driver Nikhil Sachania has been crowned the 2025 FIA Africa Rally Championship WRC3 category winner, sealing the title through early-season dominance despite missing two races on the continental calendar.
Kenya’s Nikhil Sachania has officially been crowned the 2025 FIA Africa Rally Championship (ARC) WRC3 category winner, capping a landmark season that combined sporting excellence, resilience, and a growing emphasis on inclusivity in African motorsport.
Sachania, who competes under the KCB Rally Team banner, received the title alongside his navigator Deep Patel at a ceremony held at Talanta Plaza in Upper Hill, Nairobi. The event was officiated by Cabinet Secretary for Sports, Youth Affairs and the Creative Economy Salim Mvurya, who described the achievement as a moment of national pride.
The win positions Sachania as one of Kenya’s standout motorsport figures in recent years and reinforces the country’s strong presence in continental rallying, particularly within the FIA Africa Rally Championship framework.
Early dominance proves decisive
What makes Sachania’s title particularly notable is that the driver secured the championship despite missing two legs of the 2025 ARC season, in Burundi and Tanzania, due to unforeseen circumstances.
The missed events could have derailed a championship campaign, but strong performances earlier in the season allowed the KCB-backed crew to build an insurmountable lead in the standings.
By delivering commanding results at the WRC Safari Rally Kenya, the Uganda leg, and the Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally, Sachania amassed what team officials described as a decisive “points bank” that kept him at the top of the leaderboard even as the season progressed without his participation in two rounds.
The Safari Rally, Kenya’s flagship motorsport event and part of the World Rally Championship calendar, proved especially critical in shaping the season’s outcome, providing a strong foundation for the overall title push.
A milestone for inclusive sport
Sachania is Africa’s only paraplegic rally driver currently competing at this level, a distinction that has elevated his championship win beyond competitive motorsport and into the broader conversation around inclusion in sport.
Sports CS Salim Mvurya, who presided over the award ceremony, hailed the victory as an example of how sport can transcend physical limitations and inspire wider participation.
The achievement has been positioned by sponsors and stakeholders as a milestone for inclusive sports in Africa, particularly in disciplines such as rallying that are traditionally seen as physically demanding and resource-intensive.
Corporate backing and brand alignment
KCB Group, the title sponsor of the rally team, said the win aligns with its broader commitment to supporting sports development and promoting inclusion.
“Nikhil’s victory goes far beyond motorsport. It speaks to the power of belief, preparation, and inclusion. As KCB, we are immensely proud to stand behind an athlete who continues to redefine what is possible and inspire a new generation across Africa,” said KCB Group Director of Marketing and Communications Rosalind Gichuru.
For corporate sponsors, success in high-profile sporting events such as the FIA ARC offers brand visibility across multiple African markets while reinforcing messaging around resilience, excellence, and social impact.
Motorsport sponsorship has increasingly become part of broader brand-building strategies, particularly for financial institutions seeking association with performance, precision, and regional reach.
Driver reflects on title challenge
Speaking at the ceremony, Sachania said winning the WRC3 title under challenging circumstances made the achievement even more meaningful.
“Winning the WRC3 title is a dream realized, but doing it while missing the Burundi and Tanzania legs makes it even more special,” he said.
“We knew we had to be perfect in Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda to build that lead. We pushed the car to its absolute limit in the WRC Safari Rally, and that foundation is what carried us through.”
His remarks highlighted the strategic nature of rally championships, where consistency and early-season performance can be as decisive as outright speed.
Looking ahead to 2026 ambitions
With the 2025 title secured, the KCB Rally Team has already set its sights on a more ambitious campaign in 2026.
Unlike the fragmented participation of the 2025 season, the team plans to contest every leg of the Africa Rally Championship calendar next year, starting with the 2026 WRC Safari Rally.
Navigator Deep Patel said the team’s objectives have expanded beyond the WRC3 category.
“This year, we are not leaving anything to chance. We plan to participate in every single leg, starting right here with the Safari Rally,” he said.
“Our eyes are no longer just on the WRC3; we are aiming for the overall ARC title. We have the machine, we have the chemistry, and now we have the experience to go for the big one.”
A full-season campaign will require increased logistical planning, financial backing, and technical preparation, underlining the importance of sustained corporate support and long-term investment in the sport.
Implications for Kenyan motorsport
Sachania’s championship win adds to Kenya’s strong rallying heritage and reinforces the country’s status as a continental motorsport hub, anchored by the Safari Rally’s global profile.
The success also highlights the growing role of structured sponsorship in enabling Kenyan athletes to compete consistently at international level, particularly in cost-intensive disciplines such as rallying.
As Kenya continues to position sports as part of its creative economy strategy, high-profile successes in international competitions offer both reputational and economic benefits, from tourism exposure to brand partnerships.
For the KCB Rally Team, the 2025 title represents both a sporting milestone and a platform for broader ambitions, setting the stage for a more aggressive push in the 2026 Africa Rally Championship season.
