Ashraf defies all odds to become champion

Dec 29, 2008

2008 has been a year when the rallying fraternity missed some of the big names in the sport but at the same time new revelations came on board. <b>Douglas Mazune</b> has been following and gives an account as we focus on 2009.

2008 RALLYING

2008 has been a year when the rallying fraternity missed some of the big names in the sport but at the same time new revelations came on board. Douglas Mazune has been following and gives an account as we focus on 2009.

AN unlikely National Rally Champion in Ahmed Ashraf is a symbol of surprises that characterised the 2008 season.

With 2007 champion Ponsiano Lwakataka opting not to defend his title, arch-rival Ronald Ssebuguzi seemed to be the champion in waiting –– but it was never to happen.

As expected Ssebuguzi won the season opening Southern Motor Club Rally in Luwero before suffering a nightmare in the cockpit of his red Mitsubishi Evo4 that saw him drop out of the next three races.

Favourite Jomayi Property Consultants-sponsored Ssebuguzi slipped down the leaderboard as Ashraf, just in his second season, topped the charts. A cautious Ashraf gathered points from a couple of podium finishes and a maiden NRC victory in the Mbarara Rally.

Ashraf even clinched the national title with one event to spare. He achieved the feat when he finished second in the UMOSPOC Coronation Rally in September to become the first Clubman Rally Championship (CRC) driver to win an NRC event.

Asharaf, a medical doctor, added the icing on the cake with victory in the season-ending Independence Rally.

The Federation of Motorsport Clubs of Uganda (FMU) was vindicated for its 2006 decision that made CRC drivers eligible to score NRC points.
The UMOSPOC Coronation Rally also produced another new winner in Godfrey Kiyaga.

FMU publicist Juma Nkambwe, who took long to come to terms with the surprises, described 2008 as ‘a very unpredictable and exciting season which was good for the development of the sport’.

“Everybody expected Ssebuguzi to win the championship easily but it was a different story. Gone are the days when only two drivers would win all the events. We had four different winners. They have since been greatly inspired and I predict a tough battle for the 2009 national title,” Nkambwe warned.

The KCB Pearl of Africa Uganda rally remained a jinx for speed merchant Emma Katto who again dropped in a brand new Subaru N 12 as Zimbabwean Jimmy Whyte registered his maiden win on the Africa Rally Championship in over 10 years.

As expected local drivers continued to disappoint as they fell by the way side save for an upstart in Rose Lwakataka who finished out of the podium position but still bagged maximum NRC points. The 140 NRC points put Lwakataka in contention for the NRC title early on in the season.

Female drivers Lwakataka and Leila Mayanja hogged the light as their counter-part Susan Muwonge, who had finished a praise-worth second in the previous season, gave up that race for the national championship after twice crushing her Subaru N 4.

With Ponsiano Lwakataka announcing his return next season, Ssebuguzi expected to upgrade to a Mitsubishi Evo 9 and an array of active drivers this season banking on their current form, 2009 promises to be very competitive.

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