Pearl of Africa Rally

Pearl of Africa Rally or Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally is one of the main motorsport events in Uganda. It is part of the National Rally Championship and the FIA African Rally Championship (ARC).[1]

Origins

The first edition of the Pearl of Africa Rally was held in 1997 as an African Rally Championship candidate event. This followed the successful organisation of Burundi's Great Lakes Rally in Uganda in 1996. The Great Lakes Rally was moved to Uganda due to political instability in Burundi. Inspired by the success of the Great Lakes Rally, Uganda decided to apply for its own African Rally Championship event in 1997.[1]

As Winston Churchill visited Uganda, he baptised the country as the ‘Pearl of Africa’, that's where this event receives its name from.[1]

Some remarkable drivers in the history of Uganda are Sospeter Munyegera, Shekhar Mehta, Satwant Singh, Charlie Lubega, Moses Lumala, Emmanuel Katto and Chipper Adams, among others.[1]

Past winners of Pearl of Africa Rally

Source: Motor Sport Uganda [2] and African Rally Championship[1]

Year Driver Co-driver Car Notes
1996 Karim Hirji Frank Nekusa Toyota Celica ST 185 Run under FIA rules as the Great Lakes Rally, jointly with Club Automobile du Burundi
1997 Chipper Adams Justin Beyendeza Toyota Supra Run as the Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally - ARC Candidate event
1998 Charles Muhangi Steven Byaruhanga Subaru Impreza
1999 Chipper Adams Justin Beyendeza Toyota Supra
2000 Charlie Lubega Abed Musa Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 4
2002 Johnny Gemmel Robert Paisley Subaru Impreza WRX
2003 Charlie Lubega Abed Musa Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 4
2004 Charlie Lubega Abed Musa Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 4
2005 Riyaz Kurji Sayed Kadri Subaru Impreza N10
2006 Riyaz Kurji Sayed Kadri Subaru Impreza N8 Crew run under Kenyan Licence
2007 Conrad Rautenbach Peter Marsh Subaru Impreza N10
2008 Jamie Whyte Phil Archenoul Subaru Impreza N10
2009 Riyaz Kurji Sayed Kadri Subaru Impreza N8 Prize granted posthumously [3]
2010 Jamie Whyte Phil Archenoul Subaru Impreza N10
2011 Ponsiano Lwakataka Musa Nsubuga Subaru Impreza N8
2012 Mohammed Essa Greg Stead Subaru Impreza N12
2013 Jas Mangat Gihan de Silva Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X
2014 Rajbir Rai Tim Challen Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X
2015 Jaspreet Singh Chatthe Craig Thorley Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X
2016 Hassan Alwi Enock Olinga Subaru Impreza STi N14
2017 Manvir Singh Baryan Drew Sturrock Škoda Fabia R5

References
  1. African Rally Championship, 15 July 2012: Mohammed Essa crowned Shell Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally 2012 champion – By Fredrick Musisi - Kamplala – Sunday 15 July 2012 19h30
  2. Motor Sport Uganda, no date: Pearl Of Africa Uganda Rally 2012 - Rally Guide Archived 18 August 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  3. Daily Monitor, 4 May 2009: Kurji declared winner of rally Archived 9 May 2009 at the Wayback Machine
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