Pearl Rally crucial for Mangat dream

By Douglas Mazune

WITH Jas Mangat leading both Africa and National championships now, the Pearl of Africa Rally is crucial to his quest for a double.

While Mangat just needed to survive the rugged KCB Kenya Safari Rally to score 18 points and lead the championship, he will have to fight in the Pearl Rally next month because he has a national championship battle to settle with Ronald Ssebuguzi.

He has reason to throw caution to the wind as he sets out to tighten his grip on both Africa title and national championship.

Mangat overcame a puncture and multiple mechanical failures and was overall 26th but second among competitors eligible to score Africa Rally Championship (ARC) points. The other Africa title contenders Jassy Singh and Davite Giancarlo dropped out. 

Africa champion Mohammed Essa, who finished seventh, bagged maximum ARC points.

The few Africa title contenders will not hold back because the championship leader Mangat will be out to claim outright victory and they must take him on. 

The Pearl Rally carries 40% bonus points in the national championship and will certainly have a huge bearing on the NRC destiny.