Huwel first off the ramp as Mkwawa Rally revs off Saturday

MOROGORO: PARADING his hyper-fast Toyota RS Yaris, Iringa’s Ahmed Huwel will be the first off the ramp when the Mkwawa Rally revs off this weekend in Morogoro municipality.

Mkwawa Rally is the round of this year’s National Rally Championship (NRC) and comes to Morogoro after Iringa and Dar es Salaam staged the two previous rounds.

Huwel, who previously drove a Ford Fiesta, this time he will be driving the Toyota RS Yaris, a special car designed for the World Rally Championship (WRC).

The second to leave the ramp will be Samir Shanto in a Ford Fiesta.

Driving Mitsubishi Evo 1X, Randeep Singh will leave third ahead of Manveer Birdi, who also drives Mitsubishi Evo 1X.

The two-day rally will be flagged off Tobacco Processing Plant grounds in Morogoro municipality this Saturday, according to the event’s Chief Clerk of the course, Gwakisa Mahigi, who also serves as the chairman of Mount Uluguru Club.

32 drivers and navigators from Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda have been listed for this event.

Other title contenders listed for the engine war are Gurpal Sandhu from Arusha, who will be navigated by Dave Sihoka from Zambia.

Other notable title contenders are Waleed Nahdi from Morogoro, Zubeir Piredina from Dar es Salaam.

According to the itinerary, after the Super Special Stage at Tobacco Processing Plant ground, the cars will today head to Tumbi Estate on their way to Mkundi Forest reserves, where most rounds of Sunday’s rounds will be staged.

Mahigi said the choice of the venue also aims to allow spectators to watch cars’ spectacular actions within walking distance.

“We hope both drivers and spectators will enjoy the rally as the safest, but most thrilling event,” he said.

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Mkwawa Rally, according to Mahigi, is touted as the most adventurous event of the season, and this year it has attracted many super-fast cars: Toyota RS, Ford Fiesta, Mitsubishi Evos, and Subaru Imprezas.

Drivers from six clubs based in Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Iringa, and Morogoro regions are vying for this year’s event title.