Pearl of Africa Rally

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Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally or Pearl of Africa Rally Uganda (PoARU) 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]

Contents

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]

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

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