Randeep Birdi claims NRC crown as brother Manveer retires in heartbreak

Tanzanian rally ace Randeep "Sanny" Birdi outclassed a strong field of Ugandan competitors to clinch the National Rally Championship (NRC) title during the Shell V-Power Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally, held over the weekend in Mbarara.

Navigated by co-driver Manmeet Singh in their powerful Ford Proto, Birdi produced a composed and commanding performance from the opening stage to the finish, maintaining remarkable consistency throughout the demanding three-day event in the Ankole region.

The victory not only earned him the coveted NRC crown but also secured a bronze medal in the African Rally Championship (ARC) standings after posting the third-fastest overall time. He finished behind Kenya's Samman Vohra, who came second, and eventual ARC winner Karan Patel.

However, the rally ended in heartbreak for his younger brother, Manveer Birdi, whose hopes of a podium finish were dashed after mechanical troubles forced him out on the final stage when he lost his clutch.

Competing under a Uganda licence, the Birdi brothers had entered the rally among the favourites and lived up to expectations with their pace and competitiveness throughout the event.

Following their impressive showing at the just-concluded Pearl of Africa Rally – widely regarded as the most attended motorsport event on the continent after the Safari Rally – the ASAS Rally Team received a heroic welcome back home in Tanzania, where fans celebrated their success on the regional stage.

The team has since received backing from sponsors ASAS Group to compete in more regional and continental events following Randeep's dominant performance in Uganda.

"We were only waiting for our sponsors ASAS to give us the go-ahead for more events," Erfan confirmed. "Now that everything has been approved, we shall continue testing ourselves against more competitors, not only in Uganda but also in Rwanda."

The Birdi brothers come from a family deeply rooted in motorsport. They are sons of former Tanzanian rally champion Satinder Birdi, who won the Tanzania NRC titles in 1998 and 1999 driving a Range Rover.

Their grandfather, Mohinder Singh Birdi, although not a rally driver himself, was a passionate supporter of the sport and played a major role in encouraging Satinder's rally career. Satinder would later extend the same support to his own sons, helping nurture their talent from an early age.

Growing up in such an environment, Randeep and Manveer naturally developed a deep passion for rallying.

Randeep was the first to venture into competitive motorsport at just 17 years old in a Range Rover before progressing to a Subaru GC8 and later a Mitsubishi Evo 9. His rapid rise through the ranks saw him excel in both national and regional competitions.

Among his notable achievements was winning the Tanzania NRC title in 2009, while Manveer followed in his footsteps to claim the 2024 Tanzania NRC championship.

"My brother joined the sport later after starting in autocross and sprint events," Randeep recalled. "We would always share notes on how to improve and become better drivers."

Over the years, the pair has grown into one of East Africa's most exciting sibling partnerships in rallying.

The duo competes under the ASAS Group banner, a company that has increasingly become one of the most recognizable corporate brands associated with motorsport in East Africa.

The Tanzanian conglomerate, with interests in transport, petroleum, logistics and infrastructure, has used rallying as a platform to strengthen its regional presence and connect with fans across the continent.

"We are coming back with two more drivers under the ASAS Rally Team and we want to compete against the many strong Ugandan drivers because the competition here is very tough," he added.

Beyond their speed on the stages, the Birdi brothers continue to attract attention because of their professionalism, competitive machinery, and the strong financial backing behind their operation.

With renewed sponsorship support and growing ambitions across the region, the ASAS Rally Team now appears poised to become an even bigger force in African rallying.