Kenyan rally ace Aakif Virani will not challenge his rival Karan Patel for the 2026 African Rally Championship (ARC) title in Tanzania after his team, Arrow Racing Team, announced its withdrawal from the season-ending Serengeti Tanzania Rally.

Virani, who secured the 2026 African Rally Championship Masters title and finished second overall in the championship with 85 points, had remained among the key names to watch ahead of the final round, where the overall title race was expected to reach its conclusion.

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However, his team has decided not to compete in the October 2-4 event, citing its intention to consolidate its second-place position in the overall championship standings after a demanding season.

"After a hard-fought season, Arrow Racing Team has taken the strategic decision to consolidate second position in the overall African Rally Championship standings and not contest the final round in Morogoro, Tanzania,” the team announced.

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The Serengeti Rally of Tanzania is the fourth and final round of the 2026 FIA African Rally Championship. Based in Morogoro, the event features competitive stages around the Tanzania Forest Services (TFS) Shamba la Miti area.