By Douglas Mazune

WHAT promises to be an exciting Pine Ridge Mbarara Rally this weekend has sucked in top Rwandan drivers Christakis Fitidis and Elefterois Mitraros.

Fitidis (Subaru N12), who finished second in the Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally last season, and his compatriot Mitraros (Subaru N10) have even acquired Uganda competition licenses and will contest for the national championship.

Susan ‘Super Lady’ Muwonge, the first female national champion thus has a task to defend her title. “They want to enjoy the high level of competition in Uganda. The Ugandan championship could even be the most competitive in East Africa with foreign crews coming here,” Mbarara Motor Club’s Deo Sembatya said.

According to Sembatya, the Rwandan crews arrived in Mbarara on Monday and will do route reccing today.

Fitidis will be flagged off ninth while Mitraros takes off 13th in the opening round of the national championship which has attracted 40 entrants.

Kenyan Javit Singh in a Golf will hit the road fifth. Scrutineering of the cars will be conducted in Masaka town on Friday at 2:00pm ahead of the super special stage at the newly constructed Pine Ridge double track circuit on Saturday.

Meanwhile Ronald Ssebuguzi returns to the cockpit of his Mitsubishi Evo9 after seven months break but rusty form is least of his worries in the Pine Ridge Mbarara Rally.

The Jomayi Rally Team driver, who has been inactive since he crashed out of the Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally last July reckons his form is still intact.

“I am physically fit, the car is in sound mechanical condition and I will do thorough route reccing. That’s all I need as a competitor and the rest is up to my service team,” Ssebuguzi stated.

Ssebuguzi’s co-driver Cedric Buzabo, who was on-and-off due to business committments last year, will be available this season.

The opening round of the national championship has attracted 40 drivers including Rwandans Christakis Fitidis (Subaru N12) and Elefterois Mitraros (Subaru N10).

The race organized by Mbarara Motor Club will start with a super special stage at Pine Ridge double track circuit in Masaka on Saturday and on Sunday competitors will cover five sections in Busheny, Shema and Mbarara districts.

After the special stage, cars will head to Lake View Hotel in Mbarara where they will be flagged off on Sunday morning.

Competitors will then cover five sections in Bushenyi, Shema and Mbarara districts.

Top 20 provisional start list: S. Muwonge (Subaru N10)E. Munghereza (Subaru N10)G. Kiyaga (Subaru N10)W. Bukenya (Mitsubishi Evo9)A. Ashraf (Subaru N8)R. Ssebuguzi (Mitsubishi)J. Mangat (Subaru N12)N. Mutebi (Subaru N8)C. Fitidis (Subaru N12)G. Lubega (Subaru N8)C. Muhangi (Subaru N12)D. Mubiru (Mitsubishi Evo8)E. Mitraros (Subaru N10)G. Richard (Mitsubishi Evo9)J. Singh (Golf GTI)P. Kakaire (Subaru N10)S. Satvinder (Subaru N8)R. Kasana (Subaru S)A. Sempebwa(Subaru S) A. Minjo (Subaru S)