Gorilla in the Mist Rally: Mangat takes Day One

1. Jas Mangat (Mitsubishi EvoX) 1:18:32

2. Duncan Mubiru (Mitsubishi EvoX) 1:21:41

3. Arthur Blick Jr. (Subaru N10)1:24:55

4. Hassan Alwi (Subaru N14)1:26:30

5. Wilbert Pole Pole (Mitsubishi Evo9) 1:27:50

The crew of Jas Mangat and Joseph Kamya in a Mitsubishi EvoX won Day One of the Gorilla in the Mist Rally in Kabale on Saturday.

Mangat aka Pili Pili posted an hour, 18 minutes and 32 seconds (1:18:32) followed by Duncan Mubiru Kikankane (EvoX) who posted an hour, 21 minutes and 41 seconds(1:21:41) in a tightly contested event that had six sections on Day One.

The Shell Helix-sponsored crew of Arthur Blick Jr and Unisan Bakunda in a Subaru N10 pro-drive finished third with a time of an hour, 24 minutes and 55 seconds (1:24:55).

 Arthur Blick Jr. in the Kabale town section in a playground

Next came in Hassan Alwi (Subaru N14) with a time of an hour, 26 minutes and 30 seconds (1:26:30) while Wilbert Pole finished fifth and Geoffrey Nsamba sixth.

Action continues Sunday with the remaining three sections.

Christakis Fitidis dropped out due to engine failure, as did Desh Kananura (EvoX) while Fred Wapamba and Rauf Adam rolled off the road.

Omar Mayanja, in a Mitsubishi EvoX, rolled but later returned to the road after facing a heavy penalty.

"We went off the road and rolled to the plantation but thank God we are unhurt and we are still pushing," Omar told New Vision.

Arthur Blick Jr. said: "We are pushing on. Those Bisoddes are better than us on climbing those hills and scoring more points on us but we are doing what we can."

The event is co-sponsored by Mountain Dew, ICEA Insurance Group, KFC and Executive Tours.

The fans . . .

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