Driver Manvir Birdi won the Mkwawa Leaf Rally in Morogoro on September 7, 2026, narrowly defeating Ahmed Huwel to position himself to reclaim the National Rally Championship title. The ASAS Team competitor clocked 1 hour, 14 minutes, and 51 seconds in a Skoda Fabia during the Mount Uluguru Motorsports Club event.
ASAS Team driver Manvir Birdi is poised to reclaim the National Rally Championship title after winning the Mkwawa Leaf Rally in Morogoro. Navigated by Zubair Piredina in a Skoda Fabia, Birdi secured the victory after a closely contested battle that ended with a split-second margin over his closest challenger, Ahmed Huwel. Birdi clocked 1 hour, 14 minutes and 51 seconds. Though he started second behind Huwel who led the first day’s showdown, Birdi performed well in the first five races that played a big part in his victory. His latest triumph comes barely a month after winning the Euro Cables Kisarawe Rally in mid-August this year.
The event drew a 12-car field organized by the Mount Uluguru Motorsports Club. Twelve cars managed to finish the two opening stages held at TFS Mkundi Forest in Morogoro. This event remained a fierce chase for the diadem between the defending champion, Ahmed Huwel, and his top challenger, Manvir Birdi.
Ahmed Huwel and the Super Special Stage Showdown
Huwel, who is navigated by Rahim Suleiman in a Toyota GR Yaris, beat his 11 opponents using 4 minutes, 14 seconds and 1 point in a fiercely contested two stages of the event. Huwel finished 3 seconds ahead of his closest challenger, Manvir Birdi, who clocked 4 minutes, 14 seconds and 1 Point. Huwel finished the rally in second place overall in the Toyota GR Yaris, spending 1 hour, 16 minutes and 20 seconds.
Podium Finishes and Final Standings
Third overall position was grabbed by Kithin Marey, who clocked 1 hour, 20 minutes and 37 seconds guided by vast experienced navigator Awadh Bafadhil in a Mitsubishi Evo X. The surprise package of the event was Kithin Marey, who finished third in 04:28:2 under during the Super Special Stage and went on to claim a similar position at the end of the event.
| Position | Driver and Navigator | Car | Total Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manvir Birdi and Zubair Piredina | Skoda Fabia | 1:14:51 |
| 2 | Ahmed Huwel and Rahim Suleiman | Toyota GR Yaris | 1:16:20 |
| 3 | Kithin Marey and Awadh Bafadhil | Mitsubishi Evo X | 1:20:37 |
| 4 | Gurpal Sandhu and Dave Sihoka | Mitsubishi Evo X | 1:21:25 |
| 5 | Waleed Nahdi and Ally Humoud | Subaru Impreza N11 | 1:22:45 |
Navigated by experienced Zambian co-driver Dave Sihoka, Arusha’s Gurpal Sandhu claimed the fourth position also in a Mitsubishi Evo X, clocking 4:32:4 in the Super Special stage and finishing with a total time of 1 hour, 21 minutes and 25 seconds. Fifth overall was Waleed Nahdi and his navigator Ally Humoud in a Subaru Impreza N11, who clocked 1 hour, 22 minutes and 45 seconds ahead of the sixth-placed Harrinder Deere, who was timed at 1 hour, 22 minutes and 59 seconds. Others who managed to finish the rally included Tufail Amin, who spent 0:4:41.3 in the Super Special stage, and Kartik Valambhia. Additional participants involved in the flag off included Amapiano team’s Charles Bicco and his navigator David Matete as seventh to leave the podium, opening the way to Harinder Deere and later Erfan Aladin ‘Madebe’, along with Musa Mswaki and Hamid Mbatta.
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