David GOMBE
At the recently concluded 3-day 2025 Pearl of Africa rally in Mbarara, Nikhil Sachania, Africa’s only paraplegic rally driver, came in 3rd place in the African Rally Championship after impressing at the 2025 Pearl of Africa Rally. Driving a specially adapted Ford Fiesta Rally3, Sachania once again proved that everything is possible once opportunity meets determination.
Sachania, who was partnered with his long-time navigator Deep Patel, tackled the Western Ugandan terrain using hand controls and advanced safety systems in his rally car. Competing in the WRC3 category, the Kenyan driver demonstrated remarkable consistency throughout the event.
In his interview after the rally, the thrilled Sachania spoke about his performance as a remarkable statement that anything is possible, “This win is for everyone who has ever been told they can’t. Motorsport has room for everyone, and today we proved that once again. I’m incredibly thankful to my team, my navigator Deep, and to our KCB Bank sponsors who’ve believed in this journey from day one.”
Deep Patel, equally energized by the win, added, “Navigating alongside Nikhil is always a masterclass in focus and resilience.
He drives with heart, and this rally was no exception. We fought hard for every second, and it paid off.”
Sachania’s participation and success are part of a growing push for inclusion in motorsport, supported by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), which is working to make rallying more accessible through adaptive technology and inclusive regulations.
Sheila Awori, Ag. Head of Marketing and Communications at KCB Bank Uganda, commended Sachania’s landmark achievement.
She said, “Nikhil’s performance at the Pearl of Africa Rally is phenomenal. He is not only a champion on the track but also a trailblazer in the movement toward inclusion and diversity in sport. At KCB Bank, we are proud to back athletes who break barriers and redefine what is possible.”
From his return to rallying in 2014 using hand controls to becoming one of the winners in one of Africa’s most competitive rallies, Nikhil Sachania’s third-place win provides a roadmap for how sport can evolve to include and uplift every kind of athlete. His presence in the rallies is a narrative change moment for disability inclusion in Africa and globally.
