In a bid to strengthen his team of mechanics and light up his chances of winning the Africa Rally Championship (ARC) silverware, Yasin Nasser will share mechanics with competitor Karan Patel of Kenya starting with the Shell V-Power Pearl of Africa Rally. 

The two competitors are drive Ford Fiesta R5 cars and are on top of the table with 30 points (Karan) and Yasin (24pts). 

Nasser told Vision Sport that the two have got a partnership deal which helps to improve his mechanics.

“Patel’s mechanics are here helping to fine-tune our NEMO and this will help our mechanics learn something from them,” Yasin said. 

Yasin confirmed his pursuit for both the ARC, National Rally Championship, and the Tanzania National Championship titles this year. 

“We are going for the Africa Championship and Uganda National championship, the NEMO will be in Tanzania for the Iringa rally next week after the Pearl of Africa rally,” Yasin said. 

The Shell V-Power Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally starts on Wednesday with scrutineering and technical checking of rally cars at Shell Amber-Court Jinja. 

The scrutineering will start with nationals and Group S cars on May 3, 2023, and then the following day will be cars competing in the Africa Rally Championship (ARC) and those Group N cars. 

Group N cars are homologated while Group S cars are those which are not homologated and do not score points in the ARC and even when competing in the nationals, they are deducted points. 

The three-day event expected to take place in rainy conditions has caused worry among several competitors because of the slippery soils in the Eastern Region of Uganda. 

However, Uganda’s top ARC contender, Yasin Nasser who is second on the log has vowed to use the little experience got during the Boxing Day Sprint in Busiika and Buloba FMU Fundraising Sprint held last month to score better results. 

“This event is going to be more challenging because of the wet and slippery terrain because of the rains. But we shall use the Busiika and Buloba experience,” Nasser stated yesterday in an interview at his offices in Banda. 

Nasser navigated by Ali Katumba in a Ford Fiesta told Vision Sport that he is aware that Karan Patel of Kenya is an experienced driver and has mastered his Ford Fiesta car better, but he is ready for the challenge. 

Patel is on top of the ARC log with 30 points after winning the Kenya Equator rally and targets a back-to-back victory by winning this event. 

“The challenge is not only Patel, but I also know that Uganda’s drivers including Ronald Sebuguzi, Duncan “Kikankane” Mubiru, and Jas Mangat have inferior cars but are highly experienced that you cannot rule them out of contention,” Nasser added. 

Eight crews including, Patel, Jas Mangat, Byron Rugomoka, Innocent Bwanika, Mike Mukula Jr, Rio Smith, and Rashid Makumbi will compete in the ARC category.

According to clerk of the course (COC) Omar Mayanja, the competitors will know the starting order after the Shakedown on Friday. 

On Saturday the competitors will battle it out in the competitive stages (132km), 171.74Km (liaison distance) while on Sunday they will compete in 72km competitive stages. 

The event which is the third round of the ARC will cover a total distance of 497km of which 204km are competitive and 287.37 liaison. 

Thirty-four crews have registered for the event of which eight will compete in the ARC category while the rest in the National rally championship category.

Shell V-Power Rally 

Wednesday & Thursday 

Scrutineering and technical

Friday

Qualifying Stage (Shakedown)

Day 1 (Saturday)

Competitive Stages (132km)

Liaison /Transport (171.74km)

Day 2 (Sunday).

Competitive Stages (72km)

Liaison/transport (115.63km)

ARC Standings

Karan Patel (KEN) 30

Yasin Nasser (UGA) 24

Jas Mangat (UGA) 21

Asad Anwar (KEN)

Nikhil Shakania (GBR) 17

Mcrae Kimathi (KEN) 15