Hassan Alwi won the 2016 Shell V-Power Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally in Mubende district and now targets to duplicate the same result in this year’s edition in Mukono.

Navigated by Ismail Riyaz in a Subaru N14, Alwi is optimistic they can make it to the podium. 

The continental event starts on Friday with the shakedown in Namataba before heading for the nine competitive stages to be tackled on Saturday and Sunday.

The shakedown is the pre-event race that allows crews to test their competition cars on a terrain similar to the rally. Competitors must drive through the shakedown stage at least three times, with all passes timed.  

Alwi, the International University of East Africa ambassador who made history when he became the youngest national driver to win the Pearl Rally at the age of 26, told vision Sports that he is ready for the task.

“We are ready and fully prepared for the battle,” Alwi said.

“It will not be an easy rally due to the weather and the routes in the plantations which will favour the superior cars, but as team IUEA we will do our best to prove our old Subaru in the right hands can manage the challenge them.”

Forty-nine crews including 10 foreigners and 39 locals confirmed their participation in the three-day event that is the third round of both the Africa Rally Championship and National Rally Championship.

Notable on the list are former NRC champion Dr. Ahmed Ashraf, three-time national rally champions Ronald Sebuguzi and Jas Mangat, 2019 NRC winner Yasin Nasser of the MOIL Rally team, Ponsiano Lwakataka, and 2021 NRC winner Duncan ‘Kikankane’ Mubiru.

The 10 foreign crews include Leroy Gabriel Gomes from Zambia, Karan Patel, Kimathi Mcrae, Jeremiah Wahome, Maxine Wahome, Sachania Nikhil, and Hamza Anwar from Kenya.

The crews will battle it out in nine stages totalling 512kms of which 212kms are competitive and the rest liaison.

The four stages are Shekha Mehta (25kms), Kivuuvu (21kms), Kasaku tea (32kms), and Nakiwunga(8kms) will be repeated, to sum up, the nine stages of the event that is the 24 edition of Pearl rally.

May 6-8 Shell V-Power Pearl of Africa Rally

Friday, May 6:

Shakedown 7.5kms in Namataba Mukono

Saturday, May 7:

Shekha Mehta: 25kms

Kivuuvu: 21kms (to be repeated)

Kasaku: 32kms

Nakiwunga: 8.05kms

Sunday, May 8:

Shekhar Mehta (repeat)

Kivuuvu (Repeat 2)

Kasaku (Repeat)

Nakiwunga (repeat)