Yasin Nasser and Ali Katumba are gearing up for their third attempt at the African Rally Championship (ARC) title, determined to claim the top spot after narrowly missing out in 2023 and 2024. Despite losing the title to Kenya’s Karan Patel in the previous two years, the crew feels more prepared than ever, focusing on collecting points from each event.
“We feel ready to fight for the championship more than before,” Yasin said. “The main focus is collecting points from each event, and we’re lucky to have secured them in the past two rounds, thanks to our team and sponsors.”
At the recent Pearl Rally in Mbarara, Yasin and Katumba achieved a notable second-best time in the ARC category. Although they faced a gearbox issue in the second-last section, they managed to limp to the finish line and service park for repairs.
“We just wished to get to the finish line, even if it meant limping through the rest of the stages,” Yasin noted. “But luckily, we made it.”
In the championship standings, Yasin Nasser leads with 63 points, while Karan Patel secured 35 points from the Pearl Rally, placing him sixth.
The third round of the ARC will take place in Rwanda on July 4-6. This event could be crucial for Yasin’s title aspirations, as a second-place finish would put him in a strong position. With a potential finish in Burundi, Yasin could be crowned African champion.
Rwanda might be a little decider, Yasin’s situation suggests, highlighting the importance of the upcoming event in his championship bid. With their determination and experience, Yasin and Katumba are poised to give their best shot at the championship.
