Motor Sports

Kenyan contingent ready to battle for crown at Pearl of Uganda Rally

by
Mike Barasa
May 4, 2022

Mcrae Kimathi in his car

The Uganda Rally is part of the Africa Rally Championship
A total of 10 foreign drivers have confirmed participation
Four young Kenyan drivers will be making their debut

The FIA Rally Star quartet of Maxine Wahome, Jeremy Wahome, McRae Kimathi and Hamza Anwar are set to debut at this weekend’s Pearl of Uganda Rally, a leg of the Africa Rally Championship which will be staged in Kampala.

While Wahome and Kimathi come into the Uganda event with experience from rallying in Europe, Maxine will be competing in her second Africa Rally Championship (ARC) event, having earlier last year competed at the Rwanda Rally.

Kimathi and his navigator Mwangi Kioni competed at the Rally of Sweden in March and last month were in Turkey, hoping the enormous experience can guide them in the tough terrain of Uganda.

Kimathi, the son of legendary Kenyan Rally Driver and Kenya Motrosports Federation boss Phineas Kimathi will battle in Uganda with an M-Sport Poland Ford Fiesta Rally3 car which is three steps below the World Rally hybrid car.

“I don’t know so much about the stages in Uganda. I have no clue what they will look like because it will be my first time there, but I will surely strategise accordingly with my navigator (Kioni) after recce and, of course, try not to disappoint my huge fan base there. We just hope we can go there and try to give the local boys a run for their money,” he said.

FIA rally driver Jeremy Wahome poses for a photo to showcase hi Ford Fiesta Rally3 car

Wahome will also drive the other Rally3 Fiesta hoping to replicate his ARC Equator Rally form where he finished fourth. At the Equator Rally in Naivasha, Wahome checked out early out of Service and the mistake cost him a career best second position.

“The essence is to carry on the momentum from Equator Rally and perform well. Whenever a rally is new, it’s always a tricky affair. I’m sure it’s going to be a challenge because of the huge turnout of fans on the roads but it’s one event I’m looking forward to.” Said Wahome.

Meanwhile, super lady Maxine will steer her favourite Subaru Impreza while Hamza will drive a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X.

Hamza is anticipated to return to the bucket seat of his Rally 3 Ford Fiesta just before the WRC Safari Rally. He rolled his Rally 3 machine on ARC Rally of Tanzania 2021 during Qualifying and the car has had to undergo a strip rebuild in Nairobi to repair the damage.

“I know the Pearl is a great platform for any aspiring young driver, so I’m looking forward to seeing it. I attended the event in 2007 when I was a kid to cheer on my dad (Asad Anwar),”said Hamza.

FIA Rally Star Hamza Anwar repairs his rally car during a past event

The Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally will count towards the third round of the FIA African Rally Championship (ARC) from May 6-8 in the districts of Mukono and Bukwe.

A total of 49 drivers will partake the event which has attracted 10 foreigners including Kenya’s leader Karan Patel, physically challenged driver Nikhil Sachania, ARC leader Leroy Gomes of Zambia and Rwandese speedster Giancarlo Davite.

The 39 local drivers include three times Uganda Champion Ronald Ssebuguzi, former Pearl winners Hassan Alwi and Ponsiano Lwakataka aka Mafu Mafu, Dr Ahmed Ashraf and Yasin Nasser of MOIL Rally Team.

The Pearl is the third event this year in the continental series after Rallye Bandama of Ivory Coast and Kenya’s Equator Rally.

Shakedown and Qualifying will kick-start the event program on Friday in Namataba followed by action proper on Saturday and Sunday.

FIA AFRICAN RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS AFTER EQUATOR RALLY