• Karan and Hamza are yet to win the Pearl title and hope to finally claim the glory in their R5 machines.
• Kenyan navigator Shameer Yusuf will call the pace notes for Ugandan Abas Sebunya behind the wheel of a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X.
Image: HANDOUT
Africa champion Karan Patel and Junior Africa title holder Hamza Anwar will be among the star attractions at the Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally scheduled for May 10-12.
The Kenyan duo, alongside 2022 winner Jas Mangat, are among over 30 crews listed for this year’s event. Both Karan and Hamza have unfinished business with the Pearl event and return to the iconic Ugandan fixture after skipping the 2023 edition.
Hamza retired in the 2022 edition driving a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X while Karan settled for 10th after restarting the same event on Super Rally (SR).
Following the exclusion of Rallye Bandama of Ivory Coast, this year’s Pearl Rally sets the ball rolling for the 2024 FIA Africa Rally Championship (ARC) to be held in Jinja, Uganda.
Karan and Hamza are yet to win the Pearl title and hope to finally claim the glory in their R5 machines.
KCB-sponsored Karan will be navigated by Tauseef Khan in a Skoda Fabia R5 while Hamza is partnering with Adnan Din in a Ford Fiesta Rally5.
This year’s Pearl has attracted leading local heroes among them Ponsiano Lwakataka aka ‘Mafu Mafu’, Hassan Alwi and Musa Nsubuga in a Subaru Impreza, Nasser Mutebi and Steven Bunya in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX and veteran Ronald Ssebuguzi aka ‘Seb’ in a Ford Fiesta.
Kenyan navigator Shameer Yusuf will call the pace notes for Ugandan Abas Sebunya behind the wheel of a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X.
Newly-elected Federation of Motorsport Clubs of Uganda (FMU) president James Akena anticipates an exciting event.
“Safety of crews and fans remains our priority. Our target scope in this rally, being an African Championship calendar opener, is to have a smooth and successfully run event,” Akena said.
The Pearl begins on Friday with free practice at Wairaka. The 6km stretch starts at 9 am with the qualifying stage programmed at 10:07 am.
At qualifying, leading ARC drivers will tussle for starting positions. Shakedown 1 will rev off at 12 pm followed by the second session at 1:41 pm.
The final day on Sunday will feature a repeat run of Sura Mbaya and Macarena where the rally will be decided. The event will conclude with the closing ceremony in Jinja at 1 pm.
ARC 2024 Calendar
10-12 MAY Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally (UGA)
28 Jun Equator Rally (Ken-postponed due to inclement weather)
26 Jul Zambia International Rally (Zam)
23 Aug Rally of Tanzania ( Tan)
20 Sep Rallye International du Burundi (Bdi)
18-20 Oct Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally (Rwa)