Two times Pearl of Farcically Motor Rally Champion Riyaz Kurji is dead. Riyaz Kurji died after his car overturned during the ongoing KCB sponsored Pearl of Africa rally.
Reports indicate that Kurji driving a Subaru Impreza N8 sustained serious injuries from the accident and got a blackout. He was declared dead this afternoon shortly after arriving at Kampala International Hospital.
The rally started Friday evening with a super special stage of the 2.2km Jomayi Housing estate circuit in Kawuku in Wakiso district and Kurji was in the lead when the accident happened. The reason for the accident had by press time not been officially established.
Kurji was seeking a 3rd victory as Champion of the Pearl of Africa rally. Only Charlie Lubega (who ahs since retired from Motor sport) has won it three times.
Riyaz Kurji is a top international Ugandan based businessman owning Alpha Group of companies. A graduate of Business Administration he has been the Managing Director of the Group’s leading company, Uganda Fish Packers.
By press time, it was not clear whether the rally would go on despite the death of one of Uganda’s most enthusiastic rally drivers.
Other participants in the rally include Emma Katto (Uganda) in a Subaru Impreza N14; James Whyte (Zimbabwe) in a Subaru Impreza N10; Muna Singh (Zambia) in a Subaru Impreza N10; Hans Navraj (Tanzania) in a Mitsubishi EVO9; Mohammed Essa (Zambia) in a Subaru Impreza N10; Olivier Costa (Rwanda) in a Subaru Impreza N10; Anwar Pandya (Tanzania) in a Subaru Impreza N10; and Ronald Sebuguzi (Uganda) in a Mitsubishi EVO4.
Riyaz Kurji’s death has left Uganda’s motor sport fraternity in shock, being the first time a motor rally accident has claimed a life of a rally driver.
