2016 African Rally Championship
# 2016 African Rally Championship

The 2016 African Rally Championship was the 36th season of the African Rally Championship (ARC), the FIA regional zone rally championship for the African continent. The season began on February 11 in the Côte d'Ivoire, and ended on November 13 in Madagascar, after seven events.

For the second year running a Kenyan driver claimed the title. Mitsubishi Lancer driver Don Smith won the title in dominant fashion, taking victory in Tanzania and finishing second in five other rallies, wrapping up the title early, leading to no African Championship competitors entering the series finale in Madagascar. Star of the championship was Zambian driver Muna Singh Jr., winning in South Africa, Zambia and Rwanda. Singh was unable to finish any other rally and was overcome by Smith's consistency. Fellow Zambian driver Ismail Shermohamed was third in the title, taking victory in Uganda.

## Event calendar and results

The 2016 African Rally Championship was as follows:

| Round | Rally name | Podium finishers | Podium finishers | Podium finishers | Podium finishers | Statistics | Statistics | Statistics | Statistics |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Round | Rally name | Rank | Driver | Car | Time | Stages | Length | Starters | Finishers |
| 1 | Rallye Bandama - Côte d'Ivoire (11–13 February) | 1 | Gary Chaynes | Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX | 2:24:44.7 | 12 | 238.31 km | 27 | 14 |
| 1 | Rallye Bandama - Côte d'Ivoire (11–13 February) | 2 | Marc Molinié | Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VII | 2:36:49.1 | 12 | 238.31 km | 27 | 14 |
| 1 | Rallye Bandama - Côte d'Ivoire (11–13 February) | 3 | Loïc Malherbe | Subaru Impreza STi N10 | 2:43:45.8 | 12 | 238.31 km | 27 | 14 |
| 2 | Sasol Rally South Africa (22–23 April) | 1 | Leeroy Poulter | Toyota Yaris S2000 | 2:30:02.0 | 14 | 221.55 km | 27 | 19 |
| 2 | Sasol Rally South Africa (22–23 April) | 2 | Giniel de Villiers | Toyota Yaris S2000 | 2:32:24.7 | 14 | 221.55 km | 27 | 19 |
| 2 | Sasol Rally South Africa (22–23 April) | 3 | Guy Botterill | Toyota Etios R2 | 2:43:41.7 | 14 | 221.55 km | 27 | 19 |
| 3 | Zambia International Rally (27–29 May) | 1 | Jassy Singh | Subaru Impreza STi N14 | 2:14:50 | | | 29 | 19 |
| 3 | Zambia International Rally (27–29 May) | 2 | Muna Singh, Jr. | Subaru Impreza STi N14 | 2:15:01 | | | 29 | 19 |
| 3 | Zambia International Rally (27–29 May) | 3 | Zubair Essa | Subaru Impreza STi N16 | 2:21:51 | | | 29 | 19 |
| 4 | Oryx Energies Rally of Tanzania (9–10 July) | 1 | Randeep Singh Birdi | Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX | 2:15:25 | | 248.71 km | 26 | 12 |
| 4 | Oryx Energies Rally of Tanzania (9–10 July) | 2 | Jamil Khan | Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X | 2:17:36 | | 248.71 km | 26 | 12 |
| 4 | Oryx Energies Rally of Tanzania (9–10 July) | 3 | Gerard Miller | Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX | 2:17:39 | | 248.71 km | 26 | 12 |
| 5 | Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally (12–14 August) | 1 | Valery Bukera | Subaru Impreza STi N12 | 1:48:01 | 14 | 201.06 km | 23 | 13 |
| 5 | Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally (12–14 August) | 2 | Muna Singh, Jr. | Subaru Impreza STi N14 | 1:49:06 | 14 | 201.06 km | 23 | 13 |
| 5 | Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally (12–14 August) | 3 | Hassan Alwi | Subaru Impreza STi N14 | 1:54:43 | 14 | 201.06 km | 23 | 13 |
| 6 | V-Power Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally (16–18 September) | 1 | Hassan Alwi | Subaru Impreza STi N14 | 2:41:03.5 | 9 | 232.76 km | 44 | 20 |
| 6 | V-Power Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally (16–18 September) | 2 | Arthur Blick | Subaru Impreza STi N10 | 2:41:53.6 | 9 | 232.76 km | 44 | 20 |
| 6 | V-Power Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally (16–18 September) | 3 | Christakis Fitidis | Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X | 2:48:58.0 | 9 | 232.76 km | 44 | 20 |
| 7 | Rallye International de Madagascar (11–13 November) | 1 | Tahina Razafinjoelina | Subaru Impreza STi N10 | 3:13:28 | 14 | 193.75 km | 34 | 9 |
| 7 | Rallye International de Madagascar (11–13 November) | 2 | Herivonjy Solofonirina | Foton Tunland | 3:20:02 | 14 | 193.75 km | 34 | 9 |
| 7 | Rallye International de Madagascar (11–13 November) | 3 | Tovo Rakotojohary | Renault Clio 16S | 3:24:43 | 14 | 193.75 km | 34 | 9 |

## Championship standings

The 2016 African Rally Championship points are as follows:

| Pos. | Driver | Vehicle | BAN | RSA | ZAM | TAN | RMG | PoA | Total |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Don Smith | Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 115 |
| 2 | Muna Singh, Jr. | Subaru Impreza STi N14 | | 1 | 1 | Ret | 1 | Ret | 75 |
| 3 | Ismail Shermohamed | Toyota Run-X Ford Fiesta R2 | | 4 | Ret | | 3 | 1 | 55 |
| 4 | Gary Chaynes | Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX | 1 | | | | | | 25 |
| 5 | Abdul Ssempebwa | Subaru Impreza WRX STi | | | | | 4 | Ret | 12 |

Key :

| Colour | Result |
| - | - |
| Gold | Winner |
| Silver | 2nd place |
| Bronze | 3rd place |
| Green | Points finish |
| Blue | Non-points finish |
| Blue | Non-classified finish (NC) |
| Purple | Did not finish (Ret) |
| Black | Excluded (EX) |
| Black | Disqualified (DSQ) |
| White | Did not start (DNS) |
| White | Cancelled (C) |
| Blank | Withdrew entry from the event (WD) |
