Charlie tips Riyaz Kurji
Sep 08, 2005
FORMER national champion Charlie Lubega has tipped ace Riyaz Kurji as favourite to win the prestigious Pearl of Africa Uganda rally this weekend.
By Douglas Mazune
Past winners
1998 Charles Muhangi
1999 Chipper Adams
2000 Charlie Lubega
2001 Paul Bailey
2002 Johnny Gimmel
2003 Charlie Lubega
2004 Charlie Lubega
FORMER national champion Charlie Lubega has tipped ace Riyaz Kurji as favourite to win the prestigious Pearl of Africa Uganda rally this weekend.
Four-time national champion Lubega who happens to be the only driver to have won the Pearl rally thrice (2000, 2003, 2004) revealed to The New Vision who he thought, on paper, were his top seven.
Lubega, with his usual cautiousness, said it was however unlikely that his pick of the top seven would all survive “the other factors that are never constant†that usually affect competitors.
*Lubega, the winner last year, cited a possibility of little known drivers surging into top positions as the top order falters.
He declined to rate the Tanzanian Champion Omar Bakhressa saying he has never watched him drive.
Scrutineering of cars will be conducted tomorrow at TOTAL Nakawa station before a super special stage at Lubiri.
Bukasa Air Services, Alpha Dairy Products, Speke Resort, Spear Motors, WBS.T.V, C.B.S F.M, Radio Simba, Fire Masters, Packaging Technologies and TOTAL Uganda have sponsored the rally.
Lubega’s analysis
1 Riyaz Kurji
(Subaru N-10)
Kurji is my favourite if he can take it easy and not get excited. If he matches his pace with caution, there is no reason why he shouldn’t win. The worst thing to happen would be for Riyaz to drop out and Munna also does not finish.
2 Moses Lumala
(Subaru N-8):
There’s no doubt Lumala is a good driver but he will be cautious. It is hard to push somebody’s (Kurji’s) car the way you push yours. He can end up second.
3 Munna Singh
(Subaru N-4)
- place him third.
4 Charles Muhangi
(Subaru N-10)
Depending on the car he is driving, Muhangi is steady. For a three-day event he can last especially if the car is okay. He can even fight for third position with Munna.
5 Ponsiano Lwakataka
(Subaru N-4)
He can come in there because the car may not be reliable.
6 Ronald Sebuguzi (Subaru N-4)
The car may not also last the distance. Some of those cars are good at the start but they may lack spare parts.
7 Jas Mangat
(Golf)
The golf has a limit. It is underpowered. The top speed is only 170km/h.
Past winners
1998 Charles Muhangi
1999 Chipper Adams
2000 Charlie Lubega
2001 Paul Bailey
2002 Johnny Gimmel
2003 Charlie Lubega
2004 Charlie Lubega
FORMER national champion Charlie Lubega has tipped ace Riyaz Kurji as favourite to win the prestigious Pearl of Africa Uganda rally this weekend.
Four-time national champion Lubega who happens to be the only driver to have won the Pearl rally thrice (2000, 2003, 2004) revealed to The New Vision who he thought, on paper, were his top seven.
Lubega, with his usual cautiousness, said it was however unlikely that his pick of the top seven would all survive “the other factors that are never constant†that usually affect competitors.
*Lubega, the winner last year, cited a possibility of little known drivers surging into top positions as the top order falters.
He declined to rate the Tanzanian Champion Omar Bakhressa saying he has never watched him drive.
Scrutineering of cars will be conducted tomorrow at TOTAL Nakawa station before a super special stage at Lubiri.
Bukasa Air Services, Alpha Dairy Products, Speke Resort, Spear Motors, WBS.T.V, C.B.S F.M, Radio Simba, Fire Masters, Packaging Technologies and TOTAL Uganda have sponsored the rally.
Lubega’s analysis
1 Riyaz Kurji
(Subaru N-10)
Kurji is my favourite if he can take it easy and not get excited. If he matches his pace with caution, there is no reason why he shouldn’t win. The worst thing to happen would be for Riyaz to drop out and Munna also does not finish.
2 Moses Lumala
(Subaru N-8):
There’s no doubt Lumala is a good driver but he will be cautious. It is hard to push somebody’s (Kurji’s) car the way you push yours. He can end up second.
3 Munna Singh
(Subaru N-4)
- place him third.
4 Charles Muhangi
(Subaru N-10)
Depending on the car he is driving, Muhangi is steady. For a three-day event he can last especially if the car is okay. He can even fight for third position with Munna.
5 Ponsiano Lwakataka
(Subaru N-4)
He can come in there because the car may not be reliable.
6 Ronald Sebuguzi (Subaru N-4)
The car may not also last the distance. Some of those cars are good at the start but they may lack spare parts.
7 Jas Mangat
(Golf)
The golf has a limit. It is underpowered. The top speed is only 170km/h.