Who Is The Best?

By Douglas MazuneIT would be a big shock if the winner of the 2002 TOTAL Pearl of Africa rally this weekend is none of the seven serious contenders. Moses Lumala, Charlie Lubega, Charles Muhangi, Emma Katto, Rory Green, Paul Bailey and Johnny Gemmel all stand a good chance of cruising to victory.Moses Lumala:The 1999 Uganda national champion, who last competed in the rally three years ago, returns with a lot more experience and in a more Powerful Toyota Celica ST 185.Lumala is currently in sparkling form that saw him win the Simba Telecom and dfcu Bank national rallies. He is determined to extend his impressive show into the Pearl.With his co-driver Moses Matovu back in the cockpit after a neck injury, the ‘Moses and Moses’ partnership has what it takes to get their maiden Pearl victory. Charlie Lubega:He is the man for such big occasion. The modest driver has always had the last laugh in such big events and this one may be no exception.It is a very important race for Lubega. There is no better way to reward TOTAL Uganda’s sh50m sponsorship than winning the TOTAL Pearl rally.Despite the reduction of 25 percent of his pace due to a restricted turbo charger, his skilful driving style complemented by a mature co-driver in Abed Musa is a great strength.The majority of drivers in the same race have put their money on Lubega.The national champion will be helped by the fact that he will not be the first on road.He needs a win to boost his bid for a third straight national championship title.Charles Muhangi:Big talking Muhangi has a big task of breaking the Lubega jinx. He happens to drive the Subaru Impreza WRC that has never won a rally where Lubega is.Muhangi, who has been running with a restrictor since 1998, will now fairly compete with his major rivals Lumala and Lubega who were used to enlarged turbo chargers. With the ground levelled, the 1998 winner of Pearl is well positioned to register a second victory.Emma Katto:The forgotten giant who last tested victory 26 months ago has the hunger, car and skill to end the miserable spell in a big way.In the Moonlight rally in June, his Toyota Celica ST 185 was in sound mechanical position. Should he have a trouble free event, he will run neck to neck with the front runners.The 1996 and 1997 champion has never won the Pearl but he shouldn’t be ruled out this time. Katto and his new navigator Rwabwogo Busingye make a good combination.Rory Green:The reigning Kenyan national champion is widely regarded as the most skilled driver back home. He has measured to Ugandan top driver in the sprints. Whether he can take on Ugandan ‘rockets’ in the long sections as well, will be known this weekend.The 30-year-old farmer has taken a high level of endurance that saw him finish eighth in the 2001 Safari rally. It is such endurance required in the three-day event. He is certainly the most serious foreign competitor. Paul Bailey: He won the low-key 2001 edition of the rally and he is back to prove he would have still taken it with a solid local challenge present. He is an experienced driver with a powerful Toyota Celica ST 205.Going by Bailey’s pace in the Rwanda rally before he dropped out, he should not be underrated.Johnny Gemmel:The ARC table leader with 30 points needs a win to move within two points to the African title.He is in Uganda to pick up ARC points so he cannot afford to sit back and see spoilers take up the ARC points.Start list:Rory GreenPaul BaileyJohnny GemmelCharlie LubegaDethier BernardMoses Lumala Kuku RanjitCharles MuhangiGlen EdmundsKaka JuniorPhineas KimathiAzar AnwarPatrick EmontspoolWycliff BukenyaEmma KattoJohn NgunjiriDerreck LaneIsmail LuleNadim LalaniDavite GiancarlosNishit ShahGodfrey KatendeElefter MitrarousBruno PuggiAndrew KimulaRichard GumaHerbert ‘Fatso’ LubegaPeter CleaveWilliam BlickArthur BlickDavid KavumaFred KizitoIssa NumbaBen KoyesigaPonsiano Lwakataka.Ends