Muhangi back with monster ‘Kitaguriro’

Sep 16, 2009

JUST when everybody had written him off, former Africa rally champion Charles Muhangi is back in the limelight, reports <b>Douglas Mazune</b>. Muhangi has purchased a new Kitaguriro, a Subaru Impreza N12 from Pro-Drive in the UK and has expressed his desi

JUST when everybody had written him off, former Africa rally champion Charles Muhangi is back in the limelight, reports Douglas Mazune. Muhangi has purchased a new Kitaguriro, a Subaru Impreza N12 from Pro-Drive in the UK and has expressed his desire to rise and shine again on the continental scene. He bought the car at $150,000 (sh300m) and will benefit from tax exemption on rally cars.

The 1999 Africa champion’s Subaru was supposed to be here last Saturday but it missed the flight. Flamboyant Muhangi, the only Ugandan to have won the continental championship, desisted from commenting about local drivers who have made futile attempts at emulating him.

“I have my own mission. I will make my statement after winning the African championship. My car is coming for a photo session for my fans who will not be able to see it physically,” Muhangi remarked.

Muhangi’s local rival in the 1990s, Emma Katto has made five failed attempts at the continental title. The old guards in their 50s will start their campaign for the African crown in Tanzania in February.

Meanwhile, local co-driver Moses Matovu will take a break from Katto’s cockpit to contest this weekend’s KCB Mountain Gorilla Rally in Rwanda alongside rising Kenyan talent Peter Horsey.

The 26-year-old Horsey (Mitsubishi Evo9) got a wild card for the Pirelli Star Driver Nomination which will see the winner contest six rounds of the world rally championship in 2010. The Pirelli contest will run alongside the main event.

The Kampala-based driver will benefit from Matovu’s six-year international experience. “I am looking forward to the Rwanda Rally. It’s an event I have got a lot of experience in, having contested it three times, winning once and finishing second on the other two occasions,” Matovu remarked.

The rally features 15 high speed stages covering 390km. The event that begins with a ceremonial start on Friday ends on Sunday.

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});