Ntambi takes early lead in ARC2 title chase after strong Safari Rally finish

Oscar Ntambi has put himself in contention for the ARC2 title after winning his class at the Safari Rally Kenya, the opening round of the 2026 African Rally Championship.

Ntambi finished first in the ARC2 category, keeping alive his dream of becoming the third Ugandan driver to win the class title. Mike Mukula Jr. won it in 2024, and Yasin Nasser claimed it in 2021.

To lift the trophy this year, Ntambi must successfully complete three more rounds: the Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally (May 7–10), the Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally (July 10–12), and the Nkwawa Rally in Tanzania (October 2–4).

The Safari Rally, held March 12–15 in Naivasha, Kenya, is known as one of the world's toughest rallies. Driving a new Mitsubishi Evo 10 with co-driver Uthumaan Muhamadi, Ntambi completed the event in a total time of 5 hours, 11 minutes, and 8 seconds.

The win did not come easily. The crew faced several challenges, including a broken driveshaft on day two and a bent rear suspension in the notorious Kedong 1 stage. Heavy rain also turned sections of the route into muddy traps, forcing organisers to cancel the Camp Moran stage entirely.

Other Ugandan Crews Struggle

Defending African Champion Yasin Nasser and co-driver Ali Katumba were forced to retire early after their Ford Fiesta developed severe overheating problems and nearly caught fire. They rejoined under Super Rally rules on Saturday and finished 28th overall.

Duncan Mubiru, also known as "Kikankane," faced his own troubles. His windscreen wipers failed during heavy rain on the Loldia stage, forcing him to stop. Although he later rejoined, a shattered windscreen on the final day ended his rally early.