Ashraf plots to reclaim title

By Johnson Were

Mbarara Rally

Friday—Sunday

Dr. Ashraf Ahmed is determined to reclaim the National Rally Championship he won in 2008.

That ambition begins with trying to win the Mbarara Rally that starts in Masaka on Friday with a super special stage and ends on Sunday in Kiruhura district.

Ashraf expects to utilise the experience he gathered over the years to manouver his way to glory in the three-day season opening championship.

“People are not thinking of us winning this championship because of the powerful cars other crews are lining up. But it’s not all about the car. Skills and experience matter,” Ahraf’s co-driver Peter Stone told New Vison.

In 2008, Ashraf won the NRC without winning any event. He relied on accumulative points over the course of the season.

Nasser Mutebi also won the championship without winning a single event in 2010.

The OiLibya-sponsored crew is the most experienced heading into othe rally and will face off with Ronald Ssebuguzi, Shafiq Ssemujju and crowd favourite Duncan Mubiru aka Kikankane.

Notable crews that have not registered for the event include Ponsiano Lwakataka, former NRC champion Suzan Muwonge and defending champion Jas Mangat.

Meanwhile, the assistant clerk of course Nathan Kibiike has cautioned drivers to be careful since the sections are slippery and have sharp corners.

“The roads are too smooth and some slippery with sharp corners, so the competitors must be careful,” Kibiike stated.