By Douglas Mazune
Top 10 drivers
E. Stratieva (Bulgaria)
E. Gilmour (N. Zealand)
B. Cetinkaya (Turkey)
A Zupanc (Slovenia)
S. Bicakciolglu (Turkey)
A. Sofia Correia (Portugal)
M. Debackere (Belgium)
S. Muwonge (Uganda)
R. Karlsson (Sweden)
B. Erenkul (Turkey)
WHILE the motorsport fraternity celebrates former national champion Susan Muwonge’s ranking by the International Drivers Association for the second year in a row, the ‘Super Lady’ reckons she can do better.
The rankings released yesterday placed the Kobil Rally Team driver eighth in the Women World Rally Rankings for 2012.
Muwonge, who slipped from fifth place in 2011, vowed to ascend the rankings in 2013 by competing in more world motorsport governing body, FIA sanctioned races.
“I have been challenged to push hard this season. If all goes as planned we shall take the battle outside Uganda by traversing the African continent. That will certainly lift our position in the ranking and hopefully take the Africa title as bonus,” Muwonge told New Vision yesterday.
Muwonge who in 2011 became the first Ugandan woman to win the local championship, was the only African in the top 15. Rwandan Sylvia Vindevogel featured in the co-drivers rankings in sixth place having navigated Africa championship contender Davite Gian Carlo.
Bulgarian Ekaterina Stratieva and Austrian Ilka Minor Petrasko topped the drivers and co-drivers’ standings respectively.
Super Lady comes of age
Muwonge’s steady performance has seen her complete 11 of 12 national championship race in two seasons. Should she maintain a similar approach outside Uganda she is capable scoring vital points in the Africa championship.
A cautious approach has seen crews like Zambians Satwant Singh in the 1990s and later Muna Singh in the previous decade take the Africa championship without winning a race.
