Mbarara City gears up for a thrilling weekend as Africa’s top rally drivers battle for supremacy in the Shell V-Power Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally, with championship points, pride, and performance all on the line.
Mbarara is about to trade its calm for controlled chaos as the Shell V-Power Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally storms into the Western region this weekend, an event where dust, speed, and precision collide in one of Africa’s most anticipated motorsport battles.
This year’s rally stretches across demanding gravel stages in and around Mbarara City, covering over 200 kilometres of competitive sections. The route weaves through technical corners, high-speed straights, and unpredictable surfaces that will test not just speed, but endurance, skill, and mechanical reliability.
At the center of the continental contest, the African Rally Championship (ARC) field arrives fully charged. Championship leader Karan Patel headlines the charge, carrying both momentum and pressure as he seeks to extend his lead. Close contenders Samman Vohra is equally determined to make a statement, while Uganda’s own Yasin Nasser, the reigning ARC champion, returns to familiar ground aiming to assert dominance in front of home fans.
But rallying is never predictable.
It is a sport where one small error can undo hours of precision driving, where machines are pushed to their absolute limits, and where strategy can outweigh outright speed. In Mbarara, it will once again be man versus machine, and only the most complete combination will emerge victorious.
In the ARC2 category, attention turns to standings leader Oscar Ntambi. Fresh from representing Uganda at the iconic Safari Rally Kenya, Ntambi returns home with confidence and determination. Having gained valuable experience on international terrain, he now faces familiar gravel with one clear objective, victory. His intent is firm, and his rivals are on notice.
On the national front, the National Rally Championship (NRC) brings its own intensity. Current standings leader Hassan Alwi faces stiff competition from Moses Lumala, Musa Ssegaabwe, Umar Dauda and emerging contender Stefano Valleri. With 63 drivers confirmed on entry list, the depth of competition promises action across all categories 2WD and CRC.
Beyond the drivers and machines, the rally’s heartbeat lies in its atmosphere, the roar of engines across the hills of Mbarara, the dust trails rising behind speeding cars, and the energy of fans lining the stages.
Because in rallying, nothing is guaranteed.
Not the fastest car.
Not the most experienced driver.
Not even the championship leader.
As engines fire up and the battle begins, one thing remains certain: when the dust settles in Mbarara, the best on the day, not on paper, will take the victory.
