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44 drivers were flagged off on Friday evening ahead the much anticipated 23rd edition of the Shell V-Power Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally Championship in Mukono and Lugazi.
The flag off was done in glamorous ceremony held at Kampala Resort Hotel in Namave.
This was done moments after a shakedown and qualifying phase at the Mzuri farm in Namataba where Kenyan Karan Patel posted the fastest time.
After driving the fastest, Patel together with his co-driver Taussef Khan choose to start fourth on the first day of the rally which will start on Saturday.
Wahome Wahome will start the race in leg 1 while Rashid Makumbi will go last.
Leg 1 will cover five stages while Leg 2 will have four.
The Pearl of Africa is returning after two years due to the Covid pandemic that struck the whole globe. Kenyan Manvir Singh Baryan won the 2019 edition and went on to win the African title.
This year’s Pearl of Africa is the third round of the Africa Rally Championship (ARC) where Leroy Gomes is currently the leader, with Patel following in second place.
Shell V-Powered driver Arthur Blick Jr will start off in 16 while Ronald Ssebuguzi will be 17th to race off.
Shell leads the cast of sponsors of this event after a Shs. 250,000,000 contribution.
SHELL VPOWER PEARL OF AFRICA UGANDA RALLY
LEG 1 Start order
1.Wahome Wahome
2.Hamza Anwar
3.Jas Mangat
4.Keran Patel
5.Leroy Gomes
6.Yassin Nasser
7.Giancarlo Davite
8.Maxine Wahome
9.Mcrae Kimathi
10.Kaka Junior
11.Fred Busulwa
12.Hassan Alwi
13.Duncan Mubiru
14.Omar Mayanja
15.Ponsiano Lwakataka
16.Arthur Blick
17.Ronald Sebuguzi
18.Abdul Katete
19.Kepher Walubi
20.Dr Ashraf Ahmed
21.Mark lubega
22.Omar Dauda
23.Issa Nyanzi
24.Peter Kalula
25.Jonas Kansime
26.Andy Musoke
27.Mustapha Mukasa
28.Byron Lugomoka
29.Abas Mayinja
30.Giesen Jean Jean
31.John Burrows
32.Abdul Sempebwa
33.Ibrahim Lubega
34.Samuel Watendwa
35.Samuel Bwette
36.Oscar Ntambi
37.Gilberto Balondemu
38.Umar Kakyama
39.Godfrey nsereko
40.Maseruka Henry
41.Mike Mukula Jr
42.Bwette Mohammed
43.Nasser Ratib
44.Rashid Makumbi
