The Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally (30th June to 1st July) was the fourth round of the FIA African Rally Championship (ARC) and saw ŠKODA claim its first victory in this series. It was only the third ŠKODA win on African soil and means FABIA R5 has now won rallies in the African, Asia-Pacific, Middle Eastern, European and South American (CODASUR) rally championships.
Manvir Baryan
It was the Multiple Racing Team’s FABIA R5 of Kenyan Manvir Baryan and his British co-driver Drew Sturrock that took the famous victory. And it was a dominant performance, as they finished 9 minutes and 51 seconds ahead of their closest rivals, winning eight of the ten special stages as they led from start to finish. In his first season in a FABIA R5, Baryan has impressed, winning the Mombasa Rally and RSC Rally in the Kenyan championship and also finishing third in the ARC standings at the Safari Rally. But this was unquestionably his finest performance to date and fittingly elevated him to the top of the African Rally Championship standings.
I have really had a good time throughout this event,” said Manvir Baryan afterwards. “The stages, fans were all incredible. It really feels good to win in Uganda. Once [Jaspreet Singh] Chatthe retired, the competition was fairly easy and we didn’t have to push too hard to win.”