FIA Star youngsters ready for Uganda challenge

Kenya's contender for the FIA Junior WRC and FIA WRC3, McRae Kimathi, will, this weekend pilot the M-Sport Poland Ford Fiesta Rally3 as Kenyan junior drivers take on the Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally set for 6 to 8 May.

Kimathi, navigated by Mwangi Kioni leads the FIA Rally Star quartet that has Maxine Wahome, Jeremy Wahome and Hamza Anwar who are debuting in the continent's biggest racing crowd-puller.

Shakedown and Qualifying will kick-start the event program on Friday in Namataba followed by action proper on Saturday and Sunday.

The Kampala-based event will be a journey into the unknown for the four youngsters who don't know what to expect apart from the big crowds that are traditionally associated with the Federation of Motorsport Clubs of Uganda-organized event.

While Kimathi steers his car which is three steps below the World Rally hybrid car (Rally 1), Wahome will drive the other Rally3 Fiesta hoping to replicate his Africa Rally Championship (ARC) Equator Rally form where he finished fourth.

During the Equator event, Wahome checked out early out of Naivasha's Service In and the mistake cost him a career-best second position.

On her part, the leading lady driver in Kenya at the present, Maxine, will make her first appearance in the Premier Uganda fixture behind the wheel of a Subaru Impreza while Hamza will drive a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X.

Hamza is anticipated to return to the bucket seat of his Rally 3 Ford Fiesta just before World Rally Championship (WRC) Safari Rally if all goes well. He rolled his Rally 3 machine on ARC Rally of Tanzania in 2021 during Qualifying and the car has had to undergo a strip rebuild in Nairobi to repair the damage.

“I do not know much about the stages in Uganda. I have no clue what they will look like because it will be my first time there, but I will surely strategize accordingly with my navigator after recce and, of course, try not to disappoint my huge fan base there. We just hope we can go there and try to give the local boys a run for their money,” said Kimathi.

Wahome, a product of the Kenya National Karting Championship as well as Formula 4 and 3 in Europe and Asia, on his part, said that the essence was to carry on the momentum from Equator Rally and perform well.

“Whenever a rally is new, it is always a tricky affair. I am sure it is going to be a challenge, because of the huge turnout of fans on the roads but it is one event I am looking forward to,” Wahome offered. 

Hamza, who says he has attended the event, only as part his father’s (Asad Anwar) cheering squad in 2007, is looking forward to experiencing the tales of his father who speaks highly of the event and the crazy fans.

“I know the Pearl is a great platform for any aspiring young driver so I am looking forward to seeing it. The FIA Rally Star program has definitely given us the opportunity to experience diverse conditions across Africa and improve on our driving capability. Uganda has always been my favorite,” said Hamza who rejoined this year's Equator Rally on the Super Rally rule and won the penultimate stage at Kedong last month.

The FIA Rally Star program aims to find the next FIA World Rally champion by making the sport more accessible than ever before for budding drivers between the ages of 17 and 26.

The Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally will count towards the third round of the FIA ARC. A total of 49 drivers will partake in the event which has attracted 10 foreigners including Kenya's leader Karan Patel, Nikhil Sachania, ARC leader Leroy Gomes of Zambia and Rwandese speedster Giancarlo Davite. The 39 local drivers also include three times Uganda Champion Ronald Ssebuguzi, former Pearl winners Hassan Alwi and Ponsiano Lwakataka among others.