Blick confident, Singh out to break Pearl jinx
A map showing the route through which competitors will drive during the Pearl of Africa Rally. GRAPHIC BY BY DAVID SSENTONGO
KAMPALA- The 17th edition of V-Power Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally 2015 gets underway this afternoon with Kenyan driver Jaspreet Singh and Arthur Blick Jr both targeting victory. The event is the sixth on the Africa Rally Championship (ARC) as well as the fifth on the National Rally Championship (NRC) calendar.
The Shell Helix crew of Blick and Unisan Bakunda will be flagged off first in their Subaru N10 ahead of Ronald Ssebuguzi, the reigning national champion (EvoX). The two ARC contenders Singh and 2013 Africa champion Jassy Singh from Zambia, in Subaru N16, will follow in that order.
Blick, who leads the championship with 360 points after a hat-trick of wins, is determined to not lose focus. “God willing, we hope to seal the title this weekend.
We know it is not going to be easy because the Pearl is unpredictable so we pray the car performs,” Blick, who is gunning for his maiden NRC title, said.
The 10-time MX champion has once again vowed to attack from the start. “Opening the route is no big deal; I have done it in the past three events and won. Maybe, it is a good omen.”
Singh, 36, hopes to break the Pearl Rally jinx this time round. The driver, who also leads the Kenya National Rally Championship (KNRC), has failed to finish the event in the past three years. “I have been unlucky in the previous events. But I hope this time I will be on the podium,” the Kenyan said early this week.
“In the past I was only enjoying but this time round the Africa crown is on the line. “I want maximum points from this event which will make the Madagascar Rally irrelevant.” The Madgascar Rally is the last event on ARC calendar in November.
Jean Todt, the FIA president, is expected to flag off the first car from Silver Springs Hotel today.
The cars will proceed to Zion City around Matugga for 22.48km of the super special stage.
PAST PEARL WINNERS
2004: Charlie Lubega
2005: Riyaz Kurji (Uganda)
2006: Kurji (Kenya)
2007: Conrad Rautenbach (Zimbabwe)
2008: Jamie Whyte (Zimbabwe)
2009: Kurji (Kenya, RIP)
2010: Whyte
2011: Ponsiano Lwakataka
2012: Muhammed Essa (Zambia)
2013: Jas Mangat (Uganda)
2014: Jabrir Rai (Kenya)
