Uganda’s milk capital Mbarara is set for a motorsport feast when the Shell V-Power Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally runs 07–9 May 2026, with 10 Kenyan crews listed in what is shaping up as one of the biggest international fields in recent African Rally Championship (ARC)history.
The Shell V-Power Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally is the second round of the 2026 FIA African Rally Championship after the season-opening Safari Rally Kenya, and doubles as the second round of Uganda’s KCB National Rally Championship.
Leading Kenya’s bumper entry are three Kenya National Rally Champions, adding an extra layer of excitement. Karan Patel, the 2022 Kenya champion and immediate former ARC champion, returns behind the wheel of a Skoda Fabia R5 with Tauseef Khan to defend his Pearl crown.
Samman Vohra, the 2024 Kenya champion, is back with Drew Sturrock seeking redemption after retiring on the final day last year. Jasmeet “Iceman” Chana, the 2023 Kenya champion, and brother Ravi Chana make their first Uganda outing at the wheel of a Ford Fiesta R5 under ARC. c5c4
The Kenyan list also features current ARC3 Champion Nikhil Sachania in an M-Sport prepared Ford Fiesta Rally3, Aakif Virani who was second in ARC at Safari Rally Kenya, and Evans Kavisi with Absalom Aswani in ARC2. Joseph Gachecheh and Finnish co-driver Sofia Rantasalo will debut in Uganda in a Skoda Fabia R5 after missing Safari due to logistics. Nairobi based Samir Nanji is also in the Pearl mix.
Adding a unique story is the trailblazing mother-and-daughter crew of Tinashe Gatimu and Caroline Gatimu. Tinashe, 20, drives with mum Caroline navigating a Ford Fiesta Rally4. They became the first mother-daughter crew to finish the WRC Safari Rally, a feat they have replicated twice. Mum’s experience will definitely be invaluablele for Tinashe, one of the fastest rising women’s motorsport star
Evans Kavisi will be making their Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally debut in Mbarara.
Home hopes rest on defending African champion Yasin Nasser and co-driver Ali Katumba, who are determined to make local knowledge count in Mbarara.
Nasser, the reigning ARC champion who ended Uganda’s 26-year wait for the continental crown, leads Team Uganda as captain and resumes his 2026 title defense on home soil after a disappointing Safari drive.
“Our strategy has never changed for any rally. We shall be in our own race, we push where we can, putting in mind the need of points,” Nasser said before the event.
The 2026 Pearl will cover 12 stages totaling 201.85 competitive kilometers out of a total 569.16 km. Action runs through Kiruhura and Mbarara districts, with stages named after Ankole culture and heroes: Charles Muhangi, Kaguta, Ankole Cow, Moses Lumala, and Rukaari.
FIA African Rally Championship 2026 after Safari Kenya
DRIVERS
1.Karan Patel KEN 49 pts
- Aakif Virani KEN 38 pts
- Samman Singh Vohra KEN 37pts
- Jasmeet Chana KEN 32pts
5 Oscar Ntambi UGA 26pts
- Nikhil Sachania KEN 23pts
- Naveen Pulligilla IND 20pts
- Harpreet Singh Bhogal KEN 18pts
- Christian Kanangire RWA 14pts
- Yasin Nasser TAN 11pts
- Sameer Nanji KEN 8pts
CO-DRIVERS
- Tauseef Khan KEN 49pts
- Zahir Shah KE KEN 38 2 38pts
3 Drew Sturrock GBR 37pts
4 Ravinder Chana KEN 32pts
5 Uthumaan Muhamadi UGA 26pts
6 Deep Patel KEN 23pts
7 Musa Sherif IND 20pts
8 Gordon Noble GBR 18pts
9 Kevin Shyaka RWA 14pts
10 Ali Katumba UGA 11pts
11 Suraj Pala KEN 8 11 8pts
