Rwanda’s Queen Kalimpinya is already looking forward to the crowning moment when she takes on the Pearl of Africa Rally for the first time this weekend.

The Pearl Rally comes as the second round of the Africa Rally Championship, and it got off proper on Tuesday with crews going through the routes in Mbarara. 

Queen will be featuring in the Ugandan round as she chases African rally glory. She believes there has been more than enough preparation for the challenge. 

“Somehow, the Safari Rally I did in March prepared me for the Uganda rally. I am coming back from Safari Rally, which was tough; I don’t see any challenge with the stages,” she told Kawowo Sports.

Pearl Rally will open Queen’s attempt in the ARC2 contention this season. 

“I will be doing ARC starting with the Pearl. I would have picked points from Safari, but there was an issue with the tank. Now that it is fixed, I will fight for the points here,” she said.

Queen is taking on a second event out of her home country, Rwanda. She will be driving a Subaru GVB.

“Honestly, I am still getting comfortable with the car. Back home, I still drive a GC8, so it is quite tricky.”

“The GVB is a great car, the gearbox is different from mine, and the power is amazing. I am not exhausting its power to the maximum, but I am gradually adapting,” she added. 

Queen will partner with a new co-driver, Olivier Ngabo. The crew’s focus will be to secure a clean finish from Uganda. 

The Pearl Rally revs off with a 4.66km qualifying stage on Thursday, followed by a 3.77 kilometer shakedown at Mwesigwa Resort in Mbarara.

Rally will consist of twelve (12) stages, running a total competitive distance of 201.85 kilometres. 

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Aakif Virani is optimistic that the Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally will grant him an opportunity to fight for two Africa Rally Championship honours; the overall ARC and Masters titles.

Virani features in the Pearl Rally for the first time. The event running from 7-9 May in Mbarara, western Uganda, is the second round of the Africa Rally Championship.

The Kenyan champion put up a fight in the first round of the ARC in Kenya to secure a second position behind Kenyan counterpart Karan Patel. And that put him second on the ARC standings, just 11 points behind his compatriot Patel.

“The inspiration to come to Uganda is that we are second in the ARC and we are leading the ARC Masters series. We have positions one and two to defend and try to get two championships,” he told Kawowo Sports. 

Over 20 crews will be eligible to score ARC points in the Pearl Rally. However, Virani believes he is in the best position to secure the top spot. 

“I see clear chances for us to get another podium. We were second in Kenya, where we had the same crews involved. The potential for a podium is there, and potential for a win is there as well,” he added. 

Virani takes on the challenge in a Skoda Fabia with Zahir Shah calling the pace notes. 
The Pepsi-sponsored crew had an experience of the stage during recce, and they believe the stages offer nothing to worry about. 

“The stages are fast enough. It is only part of the Charles and Mama stages that have a bit of rough patches. But it is what we are used to in Kenya. The rest of it is flat-out,” he said. 

“If we get another win from here, then we stand a good chance of going to other events,” he asserted. 

The Pearl Rally revs off with a 4.66km qualifying stage on Thursday, followed by a 3.77 kilometer shakedown at Mwesigwa Resort in Mbarara.

Rally will consist of twelve (12) stages, running a total competitive distance of 201.85. kilometres.

The post Kenya’s Aakif aiming for Pearl Rally podium to consolidate ARC title bid  appeared first on Kawowo Sports.

How is it an African rally experience without rallying in Uganda? Jasmeet Chana is about to taste the Ugandan rally craze for the first time.

The Kenyan National Rally champion is among the foreign crews that will grace the Pearl of Africa Rally, the second round of the Africa Rally Championship, slated for 7th-9th May in Mbarara.

For Chana, it is bound to be more than just a rally experience.

“We have had the urge to come here for the last three years. But thanks to Rubis, they have made the dream come true,” he told Kawowo Sports. 

“I have heard a lot about Uganda. I have watched a lot on television about rally in Uganda. And of course, the fans are out of this world; they always come out in big numbers,” he added.

Chana’s participation comes as he attempts this year’s Africa Rally Championship title.

The Rubis-sponsored crew currently has 32 points after the opening round in Kenya in March this year.

“We intend to go for ARC this year. Let’s see what the results will be. I have heard the roads are nice, smooth and fast. We are yet to see them during recce,” he said.

ARC points will be highly contested, with over 20 crews anticipated to start the event.

“But we are hoping to have a good experience and enjoy ourselves. I believe I will be competitive enough. It is going to be the fourth event with the Ford, and we are gradually mastering it. I believe it is going to be a great experience for everyone,” he said.

Chana and his co-driver and brother Ravi Chana in the Ford Fiesta rally2, along with Karan Patel, Samman Vohra, and Nikhil Sachania, will represent team Kenya.

The Pearl Rally revs off with a 4.66km qualifying stage on Thursday, followed by a 3.77Km shakedown at Mwesigwa Resort in Mbarara.

Rally will consist of twelve (12) stages, running a total competitive distance of 201.85 kilometres.

The post Kenya’s Chana ticks the bucket list with a Ugandan rally experience appeared first on Kawowo Sports.