Karan Patel and Tauseef Khan are the 2026 FIA African Rally Championship (ARC) driver and navigator champions respectively.The 2022 Kenyan Champions and KCB Racing Team drivers sealed their third continental title at the ongoing ARC Serengeti Rally of Tanzania, after their only remaining title rival and compatriot Aakif Virani and Zahir Shah withdrew from the ARC season finale.Download our Mozzart Sport app for more newsIn a statement, Virani's Arrow Racing Team announced they had taken a strategic decision to consolidate second position in the overall standings and not contest the final round."It is with deep regret we announce our withdrawal from the ARC final round in Morogoro, Tanzania. After a hard-fought season, Arrow Racing Team (Aakif Virani and Zahir Shah) has taken the strategic decision to consolidate second position in the overall African Rally Championship standings," the team said.The statement went on to congratulate Patel and Khan on becoming the 2026 African champions.The withdrawal hands Patel and co-driver Tauseef an unassailable lead heading into the final two days of competition on Saturday,3 and Sunday,4 October in Tanzania.Madina Okot features as Atlanta Dream secure first playoff semifinal since 2018The championship was almost effectively over as Patel only needed a finish, but the news now confirms him as champion before competition starts.It is a historic third ARC title for Patel, who now become only the fourth driver in the 45-year history of the Championship to win three or more titles.Patel joins an elite list led by Zambian legend Satwant Singh (8 titles), Ivory Coast's Alain Ambrosino (3 titles) and fellow Kenyan Manvir Baryan (3 titles).The newly-crowned champions got action off in Morogoro with a win in Friday's 2.40km SS00 Mkwawa Qualifying Stage.##NAJAVA_MECA_9999608##The Kenyan crew clocked 01:58.1 in a Skoda Fabia to beat Tanzania's champion Ahmed Huwel (Toyota Yaris GR Rally2) by 0.6 seconds in 01:58.7, with Manveer Birdi third in 01:59.8.Under ARC rules, the qualifying winner chooses his starting position. Patel opted to start fifth on the road at 09:12, just behind Huwel in fourth.Virani is assured of second position in the 2026 ARC regardless of the final results this weekend, and most importantly, the ARC Masters title (for competitors over 50 years) he sealed at the penultimate event in Rwanda.The start list for Day 1 on Satuday will be led by Uganda's Oscar Ntambi (09:00), followed by 2025 champion Yasin Nasser (09:03) and Manveer Birdi (09:06). Ntambi claimed the ARC2 title without turning a wheel after his Rwandese opponent Christian Kanangire failed to enter the season-ender in Morogoro.Livid McCarthy fingers ‘incompetent and arrogant’ referee after Harambee Stars’ loss to Guinea