By Douglas Mazune

ZIMBABWEAN world class driver Conrad Rautenbach will grace the Pearl of Africa Uganda rally in April.

In an e-mail to The New Vision, Rautenbach revealed that he had included the Pearl rally in his 2007 schedule.

The 21-year-old Rautenbach wants to win the African title and Junior World Rally Championship before he upgrades to the World championship next season.

He opted to skip several events in the British championship to compete in five of the seven Africa championship rounds.

The Zimbabwean will miss the Rwanda and Zambia events that coincide with world junior championships in Europe.

With Rautenbach eyeing the African title, Ugandan ace Emma Katto, also vying for the same accolade has a big battle on his hands.

According to reports in Zimbabwe Rautenbach’s Subaru Impreza has been rebuilt ahead of next month’s Rally of Tanzania, the opening round of African championship.

He will compete in the KCB Safari rally in March ahead of the Pearl rally in April.

He was a fans’ darling when he last competed in Uganda in 2003.