Tripple Threat As Kenyan Crews Set Sights on Shell V-Power Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally 2025
By Mwambazi Lawrence
As the countdown to the much-hyped Shell V-Power Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally 2025 continues, the excitement is growing faster than a rumor at a village meeting! And just when you thought the drama couldn’t get juicier, three champion Kenyan crews have confirmed they’re storming Mbarara with engines louder than your neighbor’s generator at midnight. These guys aren’t here to play they’re coming with turbochargers, team swag, and probably a suitcase full of excuses in case they lose. Slated for 9th to 11th May, this rally is shaping up to be so intense, even the cows are practicing their escape routes. Buckle your seatbelts (and your belts in general) because Mbarara is about to witness more twists and turns than a Mexican telenovela!
The Pearl of Africa Rally, famously known for its jaw-dropping scenery and terrain that treats suspension like a chew toy, is back and it’s not here to make friends. Hot on the heels of the WRC Safari Rally in Kenya (aka the rally where cars either conquer or cry), this event marks the second round of the ARC, and it’s shaping up like a heavyweight title fight in a mud ring. Kenya’s top crews, fresh from the Safari and still shaking dust out of their socks, are now eyeing Uganda’s stages like hungry hyenas at a barbecue. The engines are humming, the rivalries are simmering, and the only thing more intense than the racing will be the mechanics praying nothing falls off at 180 km/h.
Leading the Kenyan invasion (sorry, participation) is none other than the duo of Karan Patel and Tauseef Khan, flying in with their Skoda Fabia R5 aka the machine that goes fast, jumps high, and when its fesh fesh it occasionally sinks in dust like it’s auditioning for a safari-themed horror movie. These reigning African Rally Champions and defending Pearl of Africa Rally winners are back with a vengeance after their Safari Rally trip ended in a fesh-fesh fiasco at Camp Moran stage basically a sand trap so deep, it could swallow dreams and entire rally budgets.
But now, they’re coming to Uganda with fire in the belly, polish on the Skoda, and a GPS that hopefully avoids any “shortcuts.” Having already tasted sweet victory on our soil, Patel and Khan are eyeing max points like it’s a buffet and trust us, they’re not here to nibble. Expect cameras, binoculars, and probably a few prayers aimed at this crew when May rolls around they’ll be one of the most watched, cheered, and side-eyed crews on the starting line!
Rolling into the madness are the **Chana brothers Jasmeet and Ravi**making their much-anticipated Pearl debut in a Ford Fiesta R5. These 2023 Kenyan Rally Champions are no strangers to speed, pressure, or sibling debates over who missed the apex. Armed with talent, tenacity, and possibly a playlist of motivational quotes, the Chanas are hunting for their first ARC points of the season and they’re not here to play nice.
While it’s their first dance on Ugandan soil, don’t let that “newbie” tag fool you. These boys could turn the tables, flip the script, and leave a few seasoned drivers wondering how they just got overtaken by a pair of debutants who look too calm to be that fast. Uganda’s stages may be tough, but the Chanas look ready to throw down and maybe throw in a surprise or two while they’re at it.
Rounding out the Kenyan triple threat are the fresh-faced speedsters, Samman Vohra and Alfir Khan your 2024 Kenya National Champions, rolling in with another Skoda Fabia R5 because, apparently, that’s the official car of “we mean business.” Making their first-ever international rally appearance, the young duo is on a mission to show the continent that their domestic dominance wasn’t just good lighting and lucky tyre choices.
With Mbarara’s wild mix of high-speed straights, twisty turns this rally is the ultimate test and the perfect stage for Vohra and Khan to either shine or start Googling “how to repair a Fabia in the bush.” But knowing their pace and fearless attitude, they might just shake up the leaderboard and leave a few older crews wondering who handed the kids the keys. The ARC journey begins now and these two aren’t here for sightseeing!
With all three confirmed Kenyan crews proudly wearing their national and continental champion badges like they’re heading to a motorsport Oscars, the 2025 Shell V-Power Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally is already shaping up to be a full-throttle showdown between the absolute best of the best. entries opened on April 10th and will close on Friday, April 25th, which means more crews (local and nternational, are about to throw their hats into the ring.
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Pace notes reading is being rehearsed like dramatic monologues, tyres are being kicked (professionally), and everyone knows the Kenyans aren’t crossing the border to take selfies. The heat is on and come May, Mbarara will be the motorsport capital of the continent, with fans flocking in faster than a free concert announcement. One thing’s for sure: whether you’re behind the wheel or just behind the tape, this rally is going to be loud, fast, and absolutely unmissable.
The Pearl is calling, and the Kenyans are rolling in like they’re already on the podium. With engines revving and their eyes on the prize, they’re not just answering they’re arriving with a full-force, turbocharged “We’re here to take over.” Hold onto your hats, Mbarara, because it’s about to get wild!
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