Last Year’s runners-up in the Africa rally Championship title race Samman Vohra drew first blood winning the Shake Down on the opening day of the competitive stages of the Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally in Mbarara district.
The Kenya driver Co-driven by Sturrock Drew in Skoda Fabia R5, was on top of his form pursuing his machine to the limit as the crews felt the gravel and terrain of the host nation ahead of the competitive stages on Friday and Saturday May 8-9,2026 in the Districts of Kiruhura and Mbarara.
Vohra posted the fastest time of day with atotal time loss of 3.47.3minutes, 6.4seconds ahead of fierce rival Karan Patel in the Skoda Fabia R5 rally 2.
Vohra was humbled winning starting on a good foot and hoped to maintain the flow because they have the target of winning the rally to keep their ARC title contest alive.
“It was a good day, tomorrow some stages are challenging and others not but we shall take each stage as it its with the main target of finishing all the stages,” Vohra said.
The crews start the day with Muhangi Stage 17.94km before heading to Kaguta stage of 20km and then go for remote service and fuelling before they attack Ankole Cow (18.2km).
Tanzania’s Ahmed Huwel came third while Africa Rally champion Defending champion Yasin Nasser came fourth.
On Friday morning Karan Patel has promised to keep his strategy to win the rally.” I will be out to win and I will keep my strategy. I he is quick and I am quick and the best driver will win,” Patel Said.
“There are now heart feelings, we are all sportsmen and if he wins I will be happy and if he wins I will be happy. It is good we have faster crews in the event and the fans are not kept boring,” He added.
In the National rally championship, the battle is still between Hassan Alwi Jr, Ronald Sebuguzi, Musa Ssegaabwe, Ponsiano Lwakataka and Oscar Ntambi and Mike Mukula Jr.
The event is cosponsored by KCB band, Shell Vpower, Nivana Water and Lake view Hotel.
