With just three events left to the end of the African rally championship calendar, willpower, endurance and skill will come under severe test in the sixth round of the up-coming V-Power Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally scheduled for August 16-17.

Spectators will be in for another feast of rally entertainment and exhilaration starting with a Super special stage in Lubiri, as Rwandan drivers like Giancarlo Davite /Sylvia Vindevogel, Elefter Mitraros/Paolo Paganin and Christakis Fitidis/ Eric Nzamwita chip in to tackle the eleven competitive tricky sections of 441 km in a route that passes through some of the most spectacular Ugandan Landscapes.

"This event has attracted many drivers, a reason why we had to set a deadline for registration," said Alfred Mutanda deputy Clerk of the Course of Uganda motor sport "We hope the event goes on well, because we have to put an entire race together."

Without doubt, the three-day competitive race will evoke a timeless sense of adventure and exploration. For the flying Davite, there is need to bounce back from a poor ranking, most especially after being one of the casualties in the ARC category during the last two rally contests.

For the flying Davite, there is need to bounce back from a poor ranking, most especially after being one of the casualties in the ARC category during the last two rally contests. During round 4 - Puma Energy Rally in Dar es Salaam, the Italy-born driver was time-barred after losing time in the Stage Two due to an alternator problem. He wanted to finish the event to maintain his lead at the top of the series but failed.

In the Puma Energy Zambia International Rally, the ARC driver was second with +6:47 behind African champion Mohammed Essa (Subaru Impreza N010 R4) of Zambia.

And that's not forgetting the bitter disappointment in the last stage of the Rally Bandam Cote D'Ivoire in March this year, when Davite lost to Bakary Fane after his engine stopped in the last section.

Navigationally challenging

Now with key drivers like Mohammed Essa (2012 champion), Jas Mangat of Uganda and Jassy Singh ready to take center stage, high-adrenaline action is expected at the event. Possibly, Davite (Evo X) being one of the seasoned veterans amidst several greenhorns, he should drive like a man possessed to win with zest and vigor. Otherwise, this event is expected to be hotly contested but navigationally challenging too.

For instance, 'airborne Singh' has maintained consistency in the series which makes him one of the hottest contenders for the top position. Besides Essa, others drivers to watch for in this category are Zimbabwean Jamie Whyte (Subaru N10). Despite crashing out of the 2013 KCB Kenya Safari, currently, Zambia's Jassy Singh dropped to third position of the African Rally Champions (ARC) standing

This means Jas Mangat of Uganda has dethroned Singh from the top with 58 points, while the Zambian remains on 48, two behind reigning champion Essa, who moved into second position with 50 points. Sylvia Vindevogel (RWA), Davite's co-driver, is ranked fourth in the FIA African Rally championship-Navigators, and the pair trail behind with 33 points.

Of course, Ugandan local drivers like Ronald Sebuguzi, Ponsiano Lwakataka and Wycliffe Bukenya will leave no stone unturned, but for now, the competition has attracted more than 41 participates in the first category from countries like France (2), Zambia (3), 1 Zaimbabwe (1) Kenya (20) and 66 (Host) Uganda in the second category. The other rally events on the FIA African calendar are KCB Mt Gorilla- Rwanda and Madagascar Rally. Pearl of African Rally event is official sponsored by Shell.