NAIROBI, June 7 (Xinhua) -- Kenya has sent six drivers for the Gomes Zambia International Rally, which will be held in Harare on Sunday as part of the Africa Rally Championship (ARC).

Manvir Baryan, Baldev Chager and Carl Tundo lead the star-studded team, using the event in Zambia as part of their buildup towards the Safari Rally, which will be held later this month in Naivasha as a candidate race for the World Rally championship (WRC).

The rally will be flagged off on Saturday and Kenyan drivers are optimistic.

"It will be my first time in Zambia rallying so I'm really looking forward to the experience. I am going to enjoy Zambia as there is no pressure for any championship, apart from the Kenya pride factor," said veteran Tundo on Friday.

Baryan, who is the current Africa Rally Championship leader and twice reigning continental champion, will be alongside Tundo and Chager. They carry the country's hopes to the event which counts towards the third leg of the FIA African Rally Championship (ARC).

Former two wheel drive champion Eric Bengi and Rai siblings, Onkar and Tejveer are also expected to shine for Team Kenya.

Baryan already has two Zambia Rally victories (2017/18) under his belt. He returns to the Zambia in a Skoda Fabia R5 rally car.

"We are in for the race and we decided to do as a team across border experience. Obviously we have no experience on Zambia's routes and stages so it will be a nice change and challenge altogether. So the approach is to take it as it comes and main thing is to have fun and enjoy the experience," said Chager.

Zambia international Rally comes after the opening round of the Rallye Bamdama of Cote d'Ivoire and York Rally of South Africa. Safari Rally Kenya slated July is the fourth round of the ARC calendar.

Other events in the ARC calendar are rally of Tanzania, Pearl of Africa Rally (Uganda), Zimbabwe Challenge, Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally, Tara Rally (Namibia), Rallye International de Madagascar and Equator Rally (Kenya).