Three-time national rally champion Jas Mangat made his intentions of winning his fourth NRC this year clear as he started the Mbarara rally which started on Saturday Febuary 10,2024 on form.
Navigated by the former Hassan Alwi and Rajiv Ruparelia’s co-driver Enock Olinga, Mangat driving Hyundai 120R5 beat stiff opposition from Jonas Kansiime and Ronald Sebuguzi to take Day1 of the MPU Mbarara rally on Saturday Febuary 10.
He posted a total time loss of 27 minutes, 38.90 seconds (27:38.90), four minutes ahead of second Kansiime navigated by Kesh Bukenya who posted 31minutes, 45.51seconds.( 31:45.51).
UMOSPOC driver fueled by Shell V-Power came third as he also targets victory of the same rally with a total time loss of 32minutes, 20.20 seconds (32:20.20) while teammate Joshua Muwanguzi also from UMOSPOC came fifth behind self-proclaimed 2020 NRC champion Fred Kitaka Busulwa.
Ponsiano Lwakataka, popularly known as mafu-mafu did not live up to the expectations as he fell ninth having faced mechanical faults during the opening stages.
In the 2WD category, defending champion Ibrahim Lubega aka Pasuwa also nicknamed the Governor of Mukono district navigated by Robert Katabalwa, was trailing leader Edward Kirumira navigated by Shakira Nabwami in Toyota Corolla.
Rookie Musa Segabwe co-driven by Mathias Kiyega was in charge of the Clubman rally championship category.
Bobo Out:
However, it was a bad start of the season for youngster Ali Omar Yasser aka Bobo as he encountered an engine failure dropping out of the event in the first stage.
The skillful youngster navigated by his sibling Wazir Omar was expected to give the experienced crews a run for their money in this rally.
Big names missing:
The Mbarara rally has always been the face of the season registering all the big boys, but this year fell short of many as a notable number did not turn up.
Drivers including the 2022 champion Byron Rugomoka, Duncan Mubiru Kikankane, the MOIL Racing Team Yasin Nasser, and the International University of East Africa (IUEA) driver fuelled by Stabex did not participate in the event.
Alwi is the defending champion of the Mbarara rally having won it last year.
Sunday Showdown:
The Sunday, February 11, 2024 itinerary promises to be a gruelling one as the crews head to the challenging Katebe stage (25km) in the morning, followed by two lengthy stages, Akageti (23.49 km) and Akyapa (30.21km) before ending the rally with the Kakoba power stage (14.49km).
Mbarara rally DAY I top 10 results.
TOP 10
1.Jas Mangat/ Enoch Olinga 27:38.90
2.Jonas Kansiime/Ronald Bukenya 31:45.51
3.Ronald Sebuguzi/Anthony Mugambwa 32:20.20
4.Fred Busulwa /Mildred Kibuuka 32:51.73
5.Joshua Muwanguzi/ Hamza Lwanga 32:54.11
6. Isaac Sozzi/ Monica Birwinyo 33:43.00
7.Didas Matsiko/ Alfred Mutanda 35:14.81
8.Moustapha Mukasa/ Lawrence Mwambazi 35:59.68
9.Ponsiano Lwakataka/ Paul Musazi 36:313.12
10.Edward Kirumira/Shakira Nabwami 36:30:00
Compile by Kinthan Media
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