Karan Patel has won the 2023 Zambia International Rally Championship. The event, held in Lusaka over the weekend, witnessed Patel's remarkable performance that set him apart from the competition. Teamed up with his compatriot, Dawson Khan, and driving a Ford Fiesta R5, Karan Patel seized an early one-second lead in the competition, leaving the defending champions, Leroy Gomes and his wife Ashla, in his wake. This initial lead was achieved on Saturday, setting the stage for an exciting showdown on the following day. On Sunday, Patel and Charles Mangatz of Uganda were vying for the top spot. However, the fate of the rally took a dramatic turn when Leroy Gomes, the defending champion, crashed out of the race after colliding with a stump. This incident reshaped the competition, narrowing it down to Karan Patel and Charles Mangatz, ultimately won by Karan Patel. Jas Mangat and Hamza Anwar took second and third place respectively.