Uganda, May 9 -- Ponsiano Lwakataka is braced for another battle with Jas Mangat and Karan Patel in the week's African Rally Championship (ARC) opener - the Shell V-Power Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally.

Lwakataka, who won the Pearl Rally in 2011, is optimistic that he is ready and can beat Mangat (Hyundai i20 R5) and Kenya's Patel (Skoda Fabia R5).

Lwakataka promised to put his heaviest foot forward this weekend in Buikwe and Jinja Districts.

The two-time national rally champion said that it's not the first time he is going to battle the two drivers.

"I have raced with Mangat and Patel before. In the recent SMC rally in Masaka, I was neck to neck with him (Mangat), until the engine let me down.

"But, I have worked on the car and it is ...