Rally driver Ponsiano Lwakataka is no longer the competitive driver the motorsports fraternity used to admire at national events at least before 2017 for the 44 year old is still capable of taking on the best in this sport but not his car.

The two time NRC champion is struggling in his old Subaru Impreza N12B and his struggles were evident in the just concluded Mbarara City Rally last week.

Although he managed to complete the podium finish in third place with a time of 1:20:48.45, only this was after Ronald Ssebuguzi had gotten mechanical problems with his car and forth placed Mustapha Mukasa (1:30:37.83) in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9, had also gotten hiccups along the way.

Lwakataka who boasts of four Mbarara Rally championships was outplayed in the teasing super special stage at tarmac Booma grounds for his car could not drift which put him in 10th position on day one.

He was outpaced by Jonas Kansiime in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8 in the same stage and even when he regained on day two to beat him in all the sections, it was too late for him to catch up the time difference.

After bringing back home the scrap-looking car, Lwakataka lamented for support for a new machine as he is believes he is still capable of outcompeting the likes of Mangat in their new powerful machines.

“I have asked FMU to allow me prepare a fundraising rally so I be able to raise money for another competitive car, and I also compete. I bought this car in 2006 and the people I compete with have upgraded to better cars and for me 18 years ago this car is very old. I bought it from Mangat, Mangat bought a new car which he has also discarded for another new one, me still driving his first car. My fans who still need me alive I don’t die in an old car, I beg for your support,” Lwakataka lamented.

With him returning to the competition this 2024 in Mbarara, Lwakataka feels he was risking pedling an old car the way he did to catch up with the time deficit of day one in Mbarara.

 “I am lucky to have finished off the rally and in third position because I got a tyre problem on the very first section on Saturday and because the car is very old, I could not push it beyond its capacity. But thank God I completed. I finished day one in 10th position but later recovered to this. All my fans and sponsors thank you very much,” He said.

Having bought this Subaru N12B from Jas Mangat in 2006, lwakataka went on to with the NRC title in 2007 with the same car and has been a top competitor including 2022, when he was at the verge of claiming the 3rd NRC title of the race he was leading on 332 points.

However, he pulled out of the last events starting with the Kaliro event, due to personal reasons and his 124 points lead was taken advantage of by eventual champion Baylon Rugomoka.

From the Mbarara City rally, Lwakataka seats in the 3rd position in the new FMU points awards format on 49 points, having scored better in the newly introduced power stage.

Mangat leads the way with 60 points, having topped the event for 50 plus the 10 points for winning the power stage, which brings his tally to 60.