52 drivers register for Pearl of Africa Rally

The Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally clerk of the course, Katende Mukiibi, will have to drop two drivers from the list before sending the entry list to world motorsport governing body FIA.

A total of 52 drivers including Suzan Muwonge and defending champion Manvir Baryan from Kenya beat the deadline for registration which was on Saturday for the event due August 2-3 in Luweero and Kayunga districts.

"Out of the registered crews, we are screening their documents so that we drop two and send the required 50 entries to FIA before the close of business on Sunday (yesterday)," Katende said. 

The Shell V-Power Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally is the fifth round of the Africa Rally Championship (ARC) and records of participants must be sent to the FIA for approval.

The race which is also the fourth round of the National Rally Championship (NRC) is expected to be very competitive as crews will battle it out for maximum points for better positioning on the log.

Jas Mangat who won the 2013 edition navigated by Gihan Da Silva, will be navigated by Joseph Kamya in a Mitsubishi Evo 10 as he leads the local drivers that include 2016 winner Hassan Alwi in a Subaru N14 and Ponsiano Lwakataka who won in 2011 driving a Subaru N12.

Mangat who missed the third round of the NRC in Masaka targets a win to score a maximum 140 points to reposition himself on the log and also win his second Pearl of Africa Rally.

The local drivers will battle foreign drivers led by Manvir in a Skoda Fabia R5 and Dharam Pandya from Tanzania.

However, missing in action is the Gomesi Racing Team from Zambia and Giancarlo Davite from Rwanda who have been regulars in the previous events.

Ambrose Byona navigated by Derrick Lubambula in a Mitsubishi Evo 10 returns to action after a two-year hiatus.

The entries so far are Dr Ahmed Ashraf, Abas Mayinja, John Burrows, Peter Kalule, Alex Wakabi, Unisan Bakunda, Dr Godfrey Nsereko, Edward Kirumira, Yasin Nasser, Arthur Blick Jr., Ronald Ssebuguzi, Christakis Fitidis, Ambrose Byona, Musa Kabega, Kuku Ranjit, Omar Mayanja, Timothy Gawaya, Abdul Sempebwa, Vik Saini, Innocent Bwamiki, Ismail Lule, Peter Businge, Peter Genz and Kevin Lubambula.