African Rally Championship
The African Rally Championship (ARC) is an international automobile rally championship run under the auspicies of the FIA. 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 champion are Zambia's Leroy Gomes and navigator Urshlla Gomes
Category | Group N R5/Rally2 |
---|---|
Country | Africa |
Inaugural season | 1981 |
Drivers' champion | Leroy Gomes |
Makes' champion | Ford |
Official website | Official site |
Current season |
The championship has been held widely 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 Côte d'Ivoire. It is most popular in former British colonies.
Presently the African rally championship events are held in Côte d'Ivoire, Burundi, Zambia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda.
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 | Škoda |
2020 | Cancelled due to Covid19 Pandemic. | - |
2021 | Carl "Flash" Tundo | Volkswagen Polo |
2022 | Leeroy Gomes | Ford |