Pearl of Africa Rally
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]
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 | |
| 2018 | Manvir Singh Baryan
|
Drew Sturrock
|
Škoda Fabia R5 | |
| 2019 | Manvir Singh Baryan
|
Drew Sturrock
|
Škoda Fabia R5 | |
| 2020 | Cancelled due to COVID | |||
| 2021 | Cancelled due to COVID | |||
| 2022 | Jas Mangat
|
Joseph Kamya
|
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X |
References
- ^ a b c d e 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
- ^ Motor Sport Uganda, no date: Pearl Of Africa Uganda Rally 2012 - Rally Guide Archived 18 August 2012 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Daily Monitor, 4 May 2009: Kurji declared winner of rally Archived 9 May 2009 at the Wayback Machine