Tanzanians seek Shell V-Power diadem after Kisarawe Rally postponement

DAR ES SALAAM: KISARAWE Rally 2026, Tanzania’s opening round of the National Rally Championship (NRC), has been postponed to July this year due to inclement weather.

The event’s chief coordinator and sponsor, Masaim Fazal confirmed today, April 25, 2026 in Dar es Salaam, saying the inclement weather has made all sections impassable.

“We are forced to postpone the season opener for the safety of drivers, their cars and spectators because all the sections to be used have been confirmed unfriendly for the dusty road racing,” noted Fazal, who is one of the Tanzanian motorsports legends with an excellent performance in navigation.

Kisarawe Rally, which could serve as the NRC season opener was scheduled to resume tomorrow, April 26, 2026 in areas around Kisarawe district with Kazimzumbwi Forest, Kisura and Sungwi hosting the event’s main races.

Following the postponement of the Kisarawe Rally, Tanzanian drivers will now open their rally season away in Uganda,where the second round of this year’s African Rally Championship(ARC) will be staged in mid-May this year.

“We hope to make a sound re-conquest this time around, about 20 years since Omar Bakhressa and Pano Calavrias sparkled in a similar event twenty years ago in 2006,” recalls Fazal.

Five Tanzanian wheelers in race for the Pearl of Africa Rally conquest

Fazal believes Tanzanian drivers will shine again in Uganda this time around as it will field a team of formidable drivers led by the Iringa-based driver and Tanzania’s NRC defending champion, Ahmed Huwel ‘Mkwawa.

The second round of the continental level rally championship goes as Shell V-Power Pearl of Africa Rally of Uganda,and it comes exactly two decades after Fazal who navigated Omar Bakhressa and Pano Calavrias conquered it in 2006.

The Pearl of Africa Rally is the second round of this year’s African Rally Championship (ARC), and it will be staged in Uganda on May 8,9 and 10.

According to the entry list released this week, Huwel will lead the other five Tanzanian drivers in chasing the Pearl of Africa Rally’s diadem.

Randeep Birdi in Ford Fiesta Proto, Manveer Birdi in Mitsubishi EVO 9, and Tufail Tufail in Mitsubishi, Shehazad Munge in Ford RS, and Aron John in Subaru 12 complete the list of the Tanzanian envoys engaged in the mission.

Kenya’s Safari Rally opened the ARC season in March this year.

After Kampala in May, drivers will head to Rwanda for the Mountain Gorilla Rally, which will serve as the third round of ARC.

The Mkwawa Rally of Tanzania, to be staged in Morogoro in September, is the final round of the continental rally season.