The Shell V-Power Pearl of Africa rally slated for May 6-8 at Lugazi opened its entries and Hajj Abas Mayinja and co-driver Frank Serugo have registered as the very first Ugandan entry in their Subaru Impreza. This rally registers as the third event on the ARC calendar for this year.
The division two driver put in his entry looking to represent team Uganda and raise points in his class. This rally might be one with the most entries since the year started as many drivers have been looking forward to it since its return after being last held in 2019 due to the pandemic. The entry fees are UGX 750,000 Uganda shillings and most drivers have expressed interest to compete with foreign crews on their home turf that gives them home advantage. Nasser Latib and co-driver Nasser Samia also have put in their entry in a Toyota Fx.
Another early entry for team Uganda is Amaanraj Rai and co-driver Gurdeep Panesar in a Skoda Fabia R5. Rai competed in the Equator rally but suffered mechanical issues and retired in SS5.
The first foreign crew to put in an entry and confirmed participation is Rwanda’s Gianca rallye team’s Giancarlo Davite and co-driver Sylvia Vindevogel in their Mitsubishi Evolution X. Davite finished fifth in the recently completed ARC Equator rally in Kenya. Davite has competed in the Pearl before, back in 2017, he finished third when the rally was at Busiika. Also representing team Rwanda is Giesen Jean Jean and co-driver Kevin Mujiji in a Toyota Celica. In the last year it was held, Rwandese native Christakis Fitidis and navigator Nzamwita Eric Maxime finished fourth overall in their Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X. Manvir Baryan won that time.
Also getting ready and looking to defend his number one spot currently on the African Rally Championship is Zambia’s Gomes racing team, husband and wife Leroy Gomes and navigator wife Urshilla Gomes in their Ford Fiesta. Gomes is leading the championship and would like to extend his lead and lock up the early win. A crew from Zambia has won the pearl rally only once, back in 2012, Mohammed Essa and co-driver Greg Stead took the lead in their Subaru Impreza N12. It will be great to see how Gomes performs.
Kenya’s Karan Patel and co-driver Tauseef Khan also were interviewed saying they are scheduled to take part in the event fresh off their win of the Equator rally. Patel is looking to put up a fight for the ARC win.
There is anticipation of many of the Kenyan crews like the FIA/WRC Rally Star programme’s youngsters, Jeremy Wahome, McRae Kimathi, Hamza Anwar, and Maxine Wahome.
The event’s organizers announced they will allow a maximum of forty five entries and these entries will close on 23 April 2022.
