The African Rally Championship (ARC) is an international automobile rally championship run under the auspices of the FIA.
History The championship was first held in 1981 and won by Shekhar Mehta. The most successful driver in the championship's history is Zambian driver Satwant Singh with eight championships. The reigning 2023 champions are Kenyans Karan Patel and Navigator Tauseef Khan.
The championship has been held across the African continent, including the island of Madagascar, although few events are held in or north of the Sahara. The championship has frequently incorporated World Rally Championship events, particularly Africa's two most popular rallies, the Safari Rally in Kenya and the Ivory Coast Rally in the Ivory Coast. It is most popular in former British colonies.
Presently, the African rally championship events are held in Burundi, Zambia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Rwanda. The event in the Ivory Coast was left off the 2024 calendar due to very low cross-border entry. This is mostly due to the cost and the vast distances competitors have to travel to attend the event. Logistical challenges are also adding a huge cost to participation.
Events Rally of Tanzania Pearl of Africa Rally (Uganda) Safari Rally (Kenya) Zimbabwe Challenge: Not Currently on the Championship Calendar Zambia International Motor Rally Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally Equator Rally (Kenya) Mountain Gorilla Rally (Rwanda) Rallye Côte d'Ivoire Rally South Africa - Not Currently on the Championship Calendar Tara Rally (Namibia): Not Currently on the Championship Calendar Rallye International de Madagascar - Not Currently on the Championship Calendar Burundi International Rally: Joining the 2023 FIA African Rally Championship
Champions Season Driver Car 1981 Shekhar Mehta Nissan 1982 Walter Röhrl Opel 1983 Alain Ambrosino Peugeot 1984 David Horsey Peugeot 1985 Luc Requile Opel/Mitsubishi 1986 Alain Ambrosino Nissan 1987 Alain Ambrosino Nissan 1988 Satwant Singh Toyota 1989 Satwant Singh Volkswagen 1990 Walter Costa Peugeot 1991 Satwant Singh Toyota 1992 Aldo Riva Audi 1993 Satwant Singh Toyota 1994 Abe Smit Audi 1995 Fritz Flachberger Ford 1996 Satwant Singh Subaru 1997 Satwant Singh Subaru 1998 Satwant Singh Subaru 1999 Charles Muhangi Subaru 2000 Satwant Singh Subaru 2001 Schalk Burger Subaru 2002 John Gemmel Subaru 2003 Fernando Rueda Mitsubishi 2004 Muna Singh Subaru 2005 Muna Singh Subaru 2006 Patrick Emontspool Subaru 2007 Conrad Rautenbach Subaru 2008 Hideaki Miyoshi Mitsubishi 2009 James Whyte Subaru 2010 James Whyte Subaru 2011 Conrad Rautenbach Subaru 2012 Mohamed Essa Subaru 2013 Jassy Singh Subaru 2014 Gary Chaynes Mitsubishi 2015 Jaspreet Singh Chatthe Mitsubishi 2016 Don Smith Subaru 2017 Manvir Baryan Škoda 2018 Manvir Baryan Škoda 2019 Manvir Baryan Škoda2020Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic 2021 Carl "Flash" Tundo Volkswagen Polo 2022 Leeroy Gomes Ford2023 Karan PatelFord2024 Karan PatelŠkoda2025 Yasin NasserFord
References
External links Official website FIA Africa Rally Championship sheet