Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) Group Chief Executive Officer Paul Russo (right) and Sports Principal Secretary Peter flag off a rally car during the KCB Safari Rally 2025 sponsorship launch event at Kencom on January 30, 2025.
Two-time African Rally Champion Karan Patel will spearhead a four-car team sponsored by KCB Bank in this year’s WRC Safari Rally, scheduled for March 20-23.
The rally is a crucial part of Patel’s busy continental championship campaign as he aims for a third consecutive African title.
Patel acknowledged the challenge of balancing his dual commitments. “I am going for the third continental title, and the Safari is a combination of the WRC and Africa Championship. So, I have to find a balance,” he said at the KCB sponsorship launch outside Kencom House.
Patel will be joined by teammates Tinashe Gatimu, Nikhil Sachania, and Evans Kavisi.
KCB Bank has injected Sh209 million into the Safari Rally, with Sh100 million allocated to the event as its official banking partner. An additional Sh23 million is dedicated to driver support, while Sh86 million will go toward advertising and activation activities.
“The WRC Safari Rally is more than just a motorsport event. We see it as a platform to showcase Kenya’s potential on the global stage,” said KCB Group CEO Paul Russo, speaking in the presence of Sports CS Salim Mvurya, PS Peter Tum, and WRC Safari Rally CEO Charles Gacheru on Thursday in Nairobi.
“At KCB, we believe in pushing boundaries, and through our support, we hope to enable Kenyan drivers to excel while supporting Kenya’s socio-economic ambitions,” Russo added.
Sports CS Mvurya underscored the rally’s economic impact, stating, “The WRC Safari Rally has become a hallmark of Kenya’s global sporting calendar, attracting thousands of visitors and injecting billions into our economy.”
This year, KCB is sponsoring four local rally drivers: Karan Patel, Tinashe Gatimu, Nikhil Sachania, and Evans Kavisi. Gatimu, 20, will make her debut as part of the KCB racing team, while Kavisi returns to rallying after a year-long hiatus.
“We had an amazing outing across different courses on the continent last year, thanks to KCB Bank, and it is my hope that we will maintain the same momentum this year,” said Patel, who competed in Uganda, Zambia, Rwanda, and Burundi to retain his Africa title.
“Unfortunately, we didn’t have strong competition, and I hope this year will be different,” added Patel, who will be navigated by Tauseef Khan in a Skoda Fabia R5. “For WRC Safari Rally specifically, we want to be among the top crews. I know it is not easy, but we have been burning the midnight oil to be ready. Our aim is to make the sponsor and the fans happy.”
Gatimu, the youngest driver in the Kenya National category of the Safari, will compete in a Subaru Impreza N12, navigated by her mother, Caroline Gatimu. “I am so passionate about motorsports,” she said. “This has been my driving force ever since I started rallying. My mum inspires me to continue. Her undying love for the sport and support has been pivotal for my growth and continued success.”
Sachania has acquired a Ford Fiesta Rally 3, with Deep Patel as his navigator, hoping to overcome last year’s disappointment. “Last year, we had an unfortunate incident when we rolled over our Mitsubishi Evo X near Kedong. However, through KCB’s intervention, we were able to acquire a new Ford Fiesta Rally 3, which we will be debuting at this year’s iconic event.
“We are eager to push the car to the limit and showcase our skills on the global stage. We are ready to represent the bank and the country at the competition.”
For Kavisi and co-driver Absolom Aswani, it is a return to high-level competition in a Mitsubishi Evo X.
The 2025 WRC Safari Rally will cover a total distance of 1403.63km, with 384.86km of competitive stages, making it the longest in the WRC calendar. The event will begin with the Kasarani Super Special Stage before moving to Naivasha and Gilgil for the main competition.
